Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 4 July 2006
Education and Skills
Adult Education
In 2003/04 the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) allocated £25.5 million to providers in the Lambeth area for adult provision, £26.8 million in 2004/05 and £26.75 million in 2005/06. Separate figures for the Vauxhall area are not available. The individual provider allocations are set out in the following table.
2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 Lambeth college (FE) 19.10 19.60 19.50 Morley college (FE) 4.00 4.50 4.60 Lambeth LEA (ACL/PCDL) 2.30 2.50 2.50 TBG (WBL) 0.10 0.20 0.15 Total 25.50 26.80 26.75
Apprenticeships
There are no Key Stage 4 pupils in Yeovil currently on the Young Apprenticeship Programme. 30 Year 10 pupils are scheduled to start the programme in September 2006, with that number divided between Young Apprenticeships in engineering and in hospitality.
Baccalaureate
Figures for the number of pupils in maintained schools in England entered in the International Baccalaureate each year since 1995/96 are given in the following table.
Number 1995/96 101 1996/97 104 1997/98 134 1998/99 137 1999/2000 150 2000/01 154 2001/02 217 2002/03 320 2003/04 333 2004/05 498
Bullying
This Government have made clear that all forms of bullying, including bullying via mobile phone, are unacceptable and should be punished.
Misuse of mobile phones was one of the specific issues considered by the Practitioners’ Group on School Behaviour and Discipline, in its report “Learning Behaviour” (October 2005). The report points to the fact that, while mobile phones are now a part of daily life, head teachers need a clear policy on their possession and use on school site. The current Education and Inspections Bill re-enacts and strengthens the duty on schools to establish a behaviour policy. The accompanying Explanatory Notes require
“the head teacher to determine measures (which may include rules and provision for enforcing them) that promote self-discipline and a proper regard for authority, encourage good behaviour and respect for others, prevent bullying, secure that tasks are completed, and generally secure an acceptable standard of behaviour by pupils” (Clause 76).
We will be producing guidance on that duty which will specifically address the issue of mobile phone misuse.
The seriousness with which bullying by mobile phone should be treated is referred to in our anti-bullying guidance pack for schools “Don’t Suffer in Silence”. This resource is currently being revised to ensure that schools are provided with the most up-to-date information available.
Child Care
Statistics collected from local authorities (LAs) from 1999 to 2003 and from Ofsted from 2003 to March 2006 show that almost 2,000 new child care places were created in Swindon during that period.
From 1999 to March 2005 LAs were set child care place creation targets. Since then, the emphasis has been on LAs obtaining a close match between supply and demand and working with providers to develop a sustainable child care market.
General Sure Start Grant funding of more than £9.3 million has been awarded to the LA for 2006 to 2008, much of which may be used to help create places to meet the current and future demands of families in Swindon.
City Academies
My noble Friend Lord Adonis has sent letters to the following organisations:
(a) Businesses
Sunderland Housing Group
Northumbrian Water
Leighton Group
Bee Bee Developments Ltd.
Catalyst Corby
(b) Charities
(Bishop of Warrington) The right Rev. David Wilfred Michael Jennings
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool
The Girls’ Day School Trust
Edge Foundation
The London Diocesan Board of Schools
United Learning Trust
Garfield Weston Foundation
(c) Individuals
David Dangoor
(The Bishop of Leicester) The Very Reverend Tim Stevens
Lord Harris of Peckham
Community Education
There have been no formal representations on the level of community education in 2006-07. However, my colleagues and I have regular meetings about adult learning, including community education, with providers and stakeholders, including the Association of Colleges, the Local Government Association, the Workers’ Educational Association, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education and the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.
Connexions
The Department collects data on the number of interventions provided but not on the number of young people receiving support. In the past 12 months 33,433 young people were counted in the Connexions cohort of young people in Somerset. They received a total of 37,935 interventions. The Department does not hold this information at constituency level.
Departmental guidance is that, to count as an intervention there needs to be some element of assistance involving a substantial or meaningful exchange with the young person. This should be of enough significance to be noted in their client record. It would normally exclude straightforward referrals to specific opportunities, e.g. job submissions, the provision of factual information and simple follow up to find out if the young person still wanted assistance.
Correspondence
The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/peers correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006, Official Report, columns 76-78WS. The information requested is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Criminal Offences
I refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 450W, and 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2072W.
Since 1 April 2005 eight new offences were created in legislation sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills.
The Education Act 2005 created five new offences relating to the obstruction of an inspection. These provisions are found in sections 4(3), 10(2), 23(3), 24(4) (which relate to the inspection of schools) and in section 57(5) (which relates to the inspection of careers services in Wales).
Two further offences were also created by sections 109 and 111 of the Education Act 2005. These concern the unauthorised disclosure of certain information arising from provisions introduced by the 2005 Act which permitted tax and social security information to be shared for the purpose of deciding on or checking eligibility for Education Maintenance Allowances and free school meals. Unauthorised disclosure of such information was therefore made an offence.
The Children and Adoption Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 21 June 2006. By section 12(3) of the Act, which is not yet in force, one new offence concerning adoptions from abroad was created. An offence is committed when a British resident brings or causes another to bring a child into the United Kingdom and conditions specified by the Secretary of State have not been met.
Departmental Vehicles
The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has not issued any vehicles owned by the Department to staff during the last 12 months.
Edexcel
These data are collected by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) in the autumn following each examination series and are normally published in March the following year. Consequently, data on the summer 2006 examination series are not yet available.
The data for 2005 are shown as follows:
Qualification for which examination papers were sat Total of examination papers set Number Percentage GCSE 1,563 430 27.5 GCE 1,756 478 27.2
Education Funding
The available information has been placed in the Libraries.
The School Funding Implementation Group advises the Department on matters relating to school funding, in the context of the wider policy objectives for schools and the Every Child Matters agenda. The members of the group are organisations representing school leaders, school governors, local authorities and the managers of the local education service, and these organisations are responsible for nominating their individual representatives.
The current membership is: the Association of School and College Leaders, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the National Association of Head Teachers and the National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (representing school leaders); the National Governors’ Association (representing school governors); the Local Government Association (representing local authorities); and the Confederation of Education and Children’s Services Managers (representing the management of the local education service). Representatives of the Audit Commission, the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Learning and Skills Council also attend meetings as appropriate.
Education Premises
Information on the number of educational premises that have been declared unfit for use since 1997 is not held by the Department.
Emergency Protection Orders
(2) how many emergency protection orders were applied for by each local authority in each of the last three years; how many were applied for ex-parte; of the ex-parte orders granted how many of each were granted; and how many were for children (a) under and (b) over the age of one year.
Information on the number of emergency protection order (EPO) applications made by local authorities is not collected by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). Information on the number of children starting to be looked after for each social services local authority, as a result of an EPO made by the family courts, during the years ending 31 March 2003, 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2005 are presented in the following table. The DfES does not collect information about the numbers of ex-parte EPO applications.
Number 2003 2004 2005 England 1,300 1,300 1,400 North East 70 50 60 Shire counties Durham 20 10 10 Northumberland 0 0 10 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Darlington 10 0 — Hartlepool 5 0 — Middlesbrough 0 10 — Redcar and Cleveland 10 — 5 Stockton on Tees 10 15 — Metropolitan districts 0 0 0 Gateshead 5 — 10 Newcastle upon Tyne 0 — — North Tyneside — — — South Tyneside 5 — — Sunderland 0 — 0 North West 160 170 190 Shire counties Cheshire 10 — — Cumbria 0 15 10 Lancashire 20 10 15 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Blackburn and Darwen 10 — 10 Blackpool 5 — 5 Halton 0 — — Warrington 10 5 — Metropolitan districts 0 0 0 Bolton 10 10 5 Bury 0 0 5 Knowsley 0 — 0 Liverpool 0 10 10 Manchester 35 15 45 Oldham 5 15 10 Rochdale — 15 10 Salford 10 10 — Sefton 15 — — St. Helens 0 — — Stockport 0 10 — Tameside 10 10 10 Trafford 10 — 10 Wigan — 10 5 Wirral 15 — 10 Yorkshire and the Humber 200 180 180 Shire counties North Yorkshire 5 15 5 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 East Riding Yorkshire 10 — 5 Kingston upon Hull — 10 10 North East Lincolnshire 15 15 10 North Lincolnshire 5 — 10 York 0 — — Metropolitan districts Barnsley 10 10 10 Bradford 25 25 25 Calderdale — 10 — Doncaster — 10 15 Kirklees — 10 10 Leeds 65 45 55 Rotherham 15 5 — Sheffield 25 10 5 Wakefield 10 15 — East Midlands 130 110 90 Shire counties Derbyshire 25 15 15 Leicestershire 20 15 0 Lincolnshire 10 5 5 Northamptonshire 20 30 35 Nottinghamshire 20 10 10 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Derby 10 10 10 Leicester 5 10 5 Nottingham 20 10 — Rutland 0 0 0 West Midlands 220 160 220 Shire counties Shropshire 5 — 10 Staffordshire 10 15 25 Warwickshire — 5 10 Worcestershire 25 10 15 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Herefordshire 5 10 — Stoke-On-Trent 30 15 15 Telford and Wrekin 15 10 — Metropolitan districts 0 0 0 Birmingham 45 20 55 Coventry 15 — 15 Dudley 20 15 25 Sandwell 15 20 15 Solihull 0 — — Walsall 25 20 20 Wolverhampton — 5 — East of England 80 100 120 Shire counties Bedfordshire 20 20 5 Cambridgeshire — 10 15 Essex 5 15 30 Hertfordshire 10 10 5 Norfolk — — 10 Suffolk 15 10 10 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Luton 25 20 15 Peterborough 0 — 10 Southend 0 — 20 Thurrock — 5 — London 250 280 250 Inner London Camden 5 — 5 City of London 0 0 0 Greenwich — 10 — Hackney 10 5 10 Hammersmith and Fulham 5 5 — Islington — 15 — Kensington and Chelsea 0 10 — Lambeth 0 15 15 Lewisham — 15 10 Southwark 10 25 10 Tower Hamlets 5 5 15 Wandsworth 20 5 10 Westminster 20 15 — Outer London 0 0 0 Barking and Dagenham 30 15 10 Barnet 20 5 — Bexley — — — Brent 10 10 — Bromley 5 — — Croydon — 10 10 Ealing 0 — — Enfield 15 10 20 Haringey 20 20 20 Harrow — 10 5 Havering — — 0 Hillingdon 0 10 0 Hounslow 5 15 15 Kingston upon Thames 0 — — Merton 5 — 15 Newham 15 10 20 Redbridge 10 — 0 Richmond upon Thames 10 — — Sutton — — 10 Waltham Forest 10 — — South East 150 140 190 Shire counties Buckinghamshire 0 5 5 East Sussex 10 — 10 Hampshire 20 10 25 Kent 15 20 40 Oxfordshire 10 — — Surrey 15 25 35 West Sussex 10 10 15 Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Bracknell Forest — — — Brighton and Hove 20 10 — Isle of Wight 0 — 0 Medway Towns 5 25 5 Milton Keynes 15 — 15 Portsmouth 15 10 5 Reading 0 — — Slough 0 0 — Southampton 10 10 10 West Berkshire 0 — 0 Windsor and Maidenhead — — — Wokingham 0 — 0 South West 90 110 100 Shire counties Cornwall 15 15 15 Devon 15 15 — Dorset 0 — — Gloucestershire 10 5 5 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 Somerset — — — Wiltshire — 10 — Unitary authorities 0 0 0 Bath and North East Somerset 0 0 — Bournemouth 15 10 — Bristol — 15 25 North Somerset 0 10 — Plymouth — 5 15 Poole 5 — 0 South Gloucestershire 10 10 — Swindon — — — Torbay 0 0 5 1 Only the first occasion on which a child started to be looked after in the year has been counted. 2 Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. 3 To maintain the confidentiality of each individual child, data at national level are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000, to the nearest 10 otherwise. At regional level, the data are rounded to the nearest 10 and at local authority level data are rounded to the nearest 5. Numbers from 1 to 5 inclusive are suppressed and replaced by a hyphen (—). Zero (0) is shown only when the number submitted was zero. As a consequence of our rounding and suppression figures may not sum to the total. Note: Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which since 2003-04 covered all looked after children.
EU (Teaching in Schools)
The Government recognise the importance of pupils gaining an understanding of the workings of the European Union and its history, and this is reflected in the national curriculum. In history, pupils are taught about the history of Britain in its European context. In citizenship, pupils learn about the world as a global community, the role of the European Union and the UK’s relations in Europe, including the European Union. Teaching also reflects the underpinning values and principles of democratic life which are already covered in the European and United Nations human rights conventions.
The Government recognise the importance of pupils gaining an understanding of the workings of the EU and its history, and that is reflected in the national curriculum. Pupils are taught about the history of Britain in its European context in history and about the world as a global community, the role of the European Union and the UK’s relations in Europe, including the European Union in Citizenship. Teaching also reflects the underpinning values and principles of democratic life which are already covered in the European and United Nation’s human rights conventions. Although the EU can encourage co-operation between member states, the content and organisation of education systems is the responsibility of member states.
Exam Boards
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) works jointly with the regulatory authorities in Wales and Northern Ireland to recognise organisations which have demonstrated that they have fulfilled the relevant regulations for offering GCSE and GCE A-level (AS and A2) qualifications.
There are currently five organisations which are recognised by the regulatory authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as providers of GCSE, AS and A2 examinations. These are the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Edexcel, Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR), the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC) and the Council for Curriculum Education and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.
Exam Entry Spending
It was only in 2002-03 that the Department began collecting information in sufficient detail to answer this question. Therefore no comparable data are available for previous years. The information in the following table covers the cost of test and examination entry fees and any accreditation costs related to pupils, and includes GCSEs, A/AS levels and GNVQs.
Academic year Amount spent on examination entries (£ million) 2002-03 156 2003-04 174 2004-05 198
We announced in the FE White Paper “Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances” (paragraph 7.16) that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will lead a review of examination fees. The review will consider both the level of fees, and how a common format might be created for implementation by the start of the 2007/08 academic year.
Fire Risk Assessments
The Department does not have this information. However, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires that fire risk assessments are carried out. With a school maintained by a local authority, the responsibility for ensuring that this happens is likely to be shared between the local authority, the governing body and the head teacher.
The Department does not collect this information. It is a matter for the discretion of local authorities and schools.
Foreign Language Study
To promote the study of foreign languages for learners of all ages, the Government published its national languages strategy: ‘Languages for All: Languages for Life—a strategy for England’ in December 2002. To oversee the implementation of the strategy, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills appointed Dr. Lid King as national director for languages in September 2003.
In March 2005, the Secretary of State announced a £115 million “Boost for Modern Foreign Languages”, providing support for language teaching and learning until March 2008. For primary schools the funding will provide continuing support for initial and existing teacher training as well as training for support staff. To date we have trained over 2,000 new primary teachers with a specialism in languages. Last October we published, in hard copy and online, our ‘Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages’, which sets out learning objectives for the four years of key stage 2. It is supported by a national training programme, guidance and a planning tool.
The funding will also support new approaches for teaching and learning for 11 to 18-year-olds, including alternative qualifications and vocational options at key stage 4 which will provide more flexibility for pupils in their studies. We are also funding a range of projects and materials to promote languages and to develop innovative curricular models which will be show-cased to provide schools with delivery ideas and support. For example, we funded CILT, the National Centre for Languages to produce ‘Languages Work’, a suite of materials designed to promote the value of language learning, support take-up of languages beyond key stage 3, and how language skills can enhance future employability.
Our key stage 3 strategy continues to impact positively on pupils’ attainment in languages, especially boys. We plan to provide additional key stage 3 strategy training for teachers in the next academic year.
We have expanded the list of qualifications that count towards performance table scores to include more language qualifications. Most significantly, in September 2005 the new national, voluntary languages recognition scheme, the languages ladder, became available nationally. The scheme can be used by learners of all ages and is currently available in eight languages, including Mandarin Chinese. In September 2006, 13 other languages will be made available through the scheme. The scheme differs from existing approaches to assessment in that there are separate qualifications in each language for reading, writing, listening and speaking. To date over 800 centres—including local authorities and specialist language colleges—have registered to take part in the scheme, with over 10,000 learners entered for qualifications across all sectors taking over 26,000 qualifications.
To address the decline in take-up at key stage 4, my predecessor wrote to all secondary schools setting out her expectations that, from September 2006, 50-90 per cent. of a school’s key stage 4 cohort should study a foreign language leading to a recognised qualification.
Further Education
38.4 per cent. of 18-year-olds were estimated to be participating in full-time education in England at the end of 2005; 59.3 per cent. were participating in education and training. These are the latest available figures, published in the Statistical First Release “Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16 to 18 Year Olds in England” (SFR21/2006) on 8 June 2006. The SFR is available on the DfES website at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000658/index.shtml
Percentage figures on participation in education by 18-year-olds are not available for parliamentary constituencies—figures at local authority level in England are available, but for 16 and 17-year-olds only. The latest figures are for 2004, published in the Statistical First Release "Participation in Education and Training by 16 and 17 Year Olds in Each Local Area in England" (SFR13/2006) on 30 March 2006. The SFR is available on the DfES website at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000645/index.shtml
Grandparents (Contact Orders)
[holding answer 12 June 2006]: During the House of Commons Third Reading of the Children and Adoption Bill on 20 June 2006, the Government undertook to review the current requirement, as it applies to grandparents without parental responsibility, that the leave of the court must be sought before they may apply for a contact order under section 8 of the Children Act 1989. The review will consider if there is evidence that, where grandparents are denied contact with their grandchildren, they are unable to seek redress through the courts. I expect to publish the findings of the review by the end of 2006.
Head Teachers
The table provides the number of female teachers promoted to head and deputy/assistant head teacher in each year from 1995-96 to 2002-03, the latest year for which information is available.
Information on the number of teachers promoted to head and deputy head teacher by ethnic origin is not collected centrally.
Promotions to: Head1 Deputy2,3 1995-96 1,400 2,110 1996-97 1,590 2,320 1997-98 1,840 2,640 1998-99 1,350 2,170 1999-2000 1,510 2,100 2000-014 1,750 5,310 2001-024 1,490 3,500 2002-034 1,350 3,430 1 Includes promotions from qualified classroom teacher grades, deputy head and, from 2001 onwards, assistant head. 2 Includes promotions from qualified classroom teacher grades. 3 Includes promotions to assistant head from 2000-01 onwards. The assistant head grade was introduced in 2000-01 and this affects comparison with earlier years. 4 Provisional estimates subject to future revision. Source: Database of Teacher Records.
Juvenile Sleep
The Department has not issued guidance to parents of primary or secondary school pupils on the recommended daily amounts of sleep required. The Department has not commissioned any research into sleep and young people. There are no current plans to undertake research in this area.
The requested information is not collected centrally.
National Curriculum
All maintained schools must provide religious education (RE) which must reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian while taking account of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain. This could include Islam. Religious education syllabuses for maintained schools without a religious designation are drawn up by an agreed syllabus conference which advises the local education authority. These bodies represent faith groups, teachers and local schools. For schools with a religious designation the syllabus is drawn up by the governing body according to the trust deed of the school. It is for local authorities, advised by agreed syllabus conferences, and individual faith schools to decide if study of atheism is included as part of the RE syllabus.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), in partnership with the Department, launched a new non-statutory national framework for religious education in 2004. The framework provides for opportunities for pupils to study all of the principal religions in Great Britain, including Islam, and other religious traditions and secular philosophies in line with the Government’s goals of inclusion, tolerance and diversity. All of the major UK faith and belief communities and professional groups were involved in its development.
To promote the study of foreign languages for learners of all ages, the Government published their National Languages Strategy: “Languages for All: Languages for Life—a Strategy for England” in December 2002. The cornerstone of the strategy is that by 2010 all Key Stage 2 pupils will have the opportunity to study a foreign language in class time. It is for individual schools to decide which languages they offer depending on their expertise and access to resources and support.
At Key Stages 3 and 4, secondary schools must give access to at least one course in an official working language of the European Union that leads to an approved qualification. The official working languages of the European Union, for which there are approved qualifications, are: Danish, Dutch, French, German, Modern Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish. Once this offer has been made schools may then decide to offer additional languages. Approved qualifications are available in a wide range of languages in the categories raised in the question.
Ancient languages do not form part of the national curriculum. It is for individual schools and their governing bodies to decide whether to include the classics—including classical languages—in their respective curriculum. Their decision may depend on demand for the subject, having a specialist classics teacher available to teach it, and in meeting the needs of their pupils.
As part of our Specialist Schools Programme, secondary schools can apply to become humanities colleges. As part of this specialism, schools have the option to focus on the teaching and learning of classical studies (that is, Latin, Classical Greek and classical civilisation) alongside a core humanities option of History, Geography or English.
In 2005 the Department launched the Languages Ladder—the national, voluntary recognition scheme for languages—as an alternative qualification route to complement existing qualifications. The Languages Ladder endorses achievement in language skills at all levels of competence for all ages. It is available currently in eight languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Panjabi, Spanish and Urdu. A further 13 languages, in the first three stages of the scheme, will be added in September this year and will include: Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Modern Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Swedish, Tamil, Turkish and Yoruba.
Science is a compulsory subject at all key stages in the national curriculum and the aspects that must be taught are defined by a programme of study.
We have recently made changes to the Key Stage 4 programme of study to make it more engaging and exciting for pupils while maintaining the depth, breadth and challenge of the existing curriculum.
From September 2008, we will be introducing a new statutory entitlement for all Key Stage 4 students to study science programmes leading to at least two GCSEs.
Positive Parenting
The Parenting Fund provided £10.7 million to support 132 projects during the last period—2005-06.
The Parenting Fund supports voluntary and community sector organisations that provide a range of information, advice and guidance—including the promotion of positive parenting, to parents when and if they need it. The fund is not allocated on a per child basis. It would therefore be misleading to provide a general population, per child figure for parenting spend.
Pupil Numbers
The available information has been placed in the House Library.
This shows that nine local authorities have reported an increase in the number of pupils in the key stage 1 age group between 2001 and 2005; and over the same period, 13 local authorities have reported an increase in the number of pupils in the key stage 2 age group.
Since 2001 the overall population of five to 10-year-olds has fallen.
School Attendance (Lancashire)
The Department does not hold data on pupils recorded as truant. However, the figures for the proportion of half days missed due to unauthorised absence (of which truancy forms a part) in maintained mainstream schools in Lancashire local authority are given in the following table:
Primary schools Secondary schools 1997/98 0.3 0.8 1998/99 0.4 0.9 1999/2000 0.4 0.8 2000/01 0.3 0.8 2001/02 0.34 0.82 2002/03 0.31 0.82 2003/04 0.32 0.88 2004/05 0.3 0.9 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Due to local government reorganisation, regional figures are not available prior to 1998. 3 Local authority figures are only available to 1 decimal place prior to 2000.
Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.
School Exclusions
The requested information is given in the following table.
There are known quality issues with exclusions data for 2000/01 and later and these are explained in footnote 5 of the table.
Primary, secondary and special schools Pupils aged 1997/983 1998/994 1999/004 2000/014,5 2001/024,5 2002/034,5 2003/044,5 2004/054,5 4 — 6— — — — 6— 6— 6— 5 6— 6— — — 6— 6— 6— 6— 6 — — 6— 5 6— 6— 6— 6— 7 4 3 6— 3 5 6— 3 6— 8 8 6— 6— 4 8 5 5 — 9 9 12 6 7 11 9 7 7 10 20 13 9 15 13 10 13 10 11 12 13 9 15 17 33 26 13 12 38 24 20 45 33 59 40 55 13 59 47 35 56 69 66 74 51 14 82 82 56 74 84 97 91 77 15 65 45 26 28 33 26 47 33 16 6— 6— — — 6— — 6— 6— 17 — — — — — — — 6— 18 — — 6— — — — — — 19 and over — — — — — — — — Total (as reported in the ASC)5 301 244 167 252 278 311 312 254 Total as confirmed by local authorities5 n/a n/a n/a 250 299 344 332 273 n/a = Not applicable 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. 3 Before local government reorganisation 4 After local government reorganisation 5 For these years schools are known to have under-reported the number of permanent exclusions. The Department carried out a checking exercise but this confirmed only the overall number of permanent exclusions in each authority. The numbers of excluded pupils by age are based on incomplete data as reported by schools and should be used with caution. 6 1 or 2 pupils. Source: Schools' Census
Education for pupils who have been excluded from schools in Lancashire local authority is provided mainly via pupil referral units (PRUs). The local authority has five PRUs for primary age pupils and eight for secondary age pupils, catering for over 500 pupils. Other forms of alternative educational provision for excluded pupils are commissioned through these PRUs and include placements in further education colleges, extended work placements and provision available in the private and voluntary sector.
The number of successful appeals against permanent exclusion where reinstatement was directed is only available from 2002/03 onwards. The available information is given in the table.
East Riding of Yorkshire local authority area England1 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 Number of appeals heard 4 9 10 990 1,050 1,030 Number of appeals determined in favour of the parent/pupil 2— 2— 4 210 220 220 Percentage of appeals determined in favour of the parent/pupil3 2— 2— 40.0 21.1 21.2 21.5 Number of successful appeals where reinstatement was directed 2— 0 2— 150 130 110 Percentage of successful appeals where reinstatement was directed4 2— 0.0 2— 71.3 57.0 49.1 1 Figures for England have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2 1 or 2 appeals, or a rate based on 1 or 2 appeals. 3 Shown as a percentage of appeals heard. 4 Shown as a percentage of appeals determined in favour of the parent/pupil. Source: School Exclusion Appeal Survey
These figures show that head teachers’ judgments on exclusions are not being routinely overturned by appeal panels. There has been a reduction for the third year in a row in the number of pupils reinstated to their former school on appeal.
School Meals
The available information is shown in the following table.
1997 Number of day pupils1 Number of pupils taking a free school meal on the Census Day Percentage of pupils taking a free school meal on the Census Day2 Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals3 England5 4,428,620 771,780 17.4 938,540 21.2 420 Isles of Scilly 160 17 10.6 19 11.9 857 Rutland6 — — — — — 872 Wokingham6 — — — — — 836 Poole6 — — — — — 825 Buckinghamshire6 — — — — — 835 Dorset6 — — — — — 938 West Sussex 58,168 5,941 10.2 7,496 12.9 925 Lincolnshire 53,619 3,830 7.1 4,597 8.6 867 Bracknell Forest6 — — — — — 865 Wiltshire6 — — — — — 314 Kingston upon Thames 11,530 717 6.2 856 7.4 855 Leicestershire6 — — — — — 868 Windsor and Maidenhead6 — — — — — 869 West Berkshire6 — — — — — 936 Surrey 78,690 6,637 8.4 7,871 10.0 803 South Gloucestershire 22,571 2,259 10.0 2,745 12.2 815 North Yorkshire 47,927 4,435 9.3 5,110 10.7 933 Somerset 38,509 3,855 10.0 4,624 12.0 919 Hertfordshire 92,397 9,452 10.2 11,259 12.2 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 27,126 2,546 9.4 3,158 11.6 884 Herefordshire6 — — — — — 873 Cambridgeshire6 — — — — — 885 Worcestershire6 — — — — — 850 Hampshire6 — — — — — 866 Swindon6 — — — — — 893 Shropshire6 — — — — — 931 Oxfordshire 44,733 4,012 9.0 5,008 11.2 318 Richmond upon Thames 12,074 1,188 9.8 1,611 13.3 877 Warrington6 — — — — — 928 Northamptonshire 54,701 4,940 9.0 6,384 11.7 916 Gloucestershire 46,248 4,929 10.7 6,151 13.3 937 Warwickshire 43,662 4,736 10.8 5,553 12.7 800 Bath and North East Somerset 13,111 1,677 12.8 2,027 15.5 816 York 14,905 1,859 12.5 2,250 15.1 878 Devon6 — — — — — 860 Staffordshire6 — — — — — 881 Essex6 — — — — — 303 Bexley 22,223 3,007 13.5 3,637 16.4 802 North Somerset 14,775 1,777 12.0 2,090 14.1 935 Suffolk 47,239 5,982 12.7 7,554 16.0 820 Bedfordshire6 — — — — — 875 Cheshire6 — — — — — 358 Trafford 21,462 3,399 15.8 4,009 18.7 908 Cornwall 41,862 6,547 15.6 7,784 18.6 356 Stockport 26,941 3,846 14.3 4,661 17.3 886 Kent6 — — — — — 887 Medway6 — — — — — 311 Havering 21,001 2,459 11.7 3,088 14.7 334 Solihull 21,581 2,770 12.8 3,238 15.0 891 Nottinghamshire6 — — — — — 845 East Sussex6 — — — — — 305 Bromley 24,292 3,282 13.5 4,352 17.9 830 Derbyshire6 — — — — — 315 Merton 16,159 2,471 15.3 3,099 19.2 929 Northumberland 21,839 3,345 15.3 3,783 17.3 826 Milton Keynes6 — — — — — 837 Bournemouth6 — — — — — 909 Cumbria 44,762 6,917 15.5 7,904 17.7 319 Sutton 14,630 1,778 12.2 2,070 14.1 813 North Lincolnshire 14,972 2,485 16.6 2,879 19.2 883 Thurrock6 — — — — — 926 Norfolk 66.666 8,913 13.4 10,824 16.2 351 Bury 18,095 2,769 15.3 3,319 18.3 888 Lancashire6 — — — — — 381 Calderdale 20,605 3,478 16.9 4,109 19.9 332 Dudley 30,884 4,394 14.2 5,544 18.0 359 Wigan 30,276 4,838 16.0 5,623 18.6 343 Sefton 28,115 5,465 19.4 7,171 25.5 384 Wakefield 32,956 5,546 16.8 6,572 19.9 382 Kirklees 38,649 7,285 18.8 8,908 23.0 350 Bolton 28,512 5,495 19.3 6,151 21.6 851 Portsmouth6 — — — — — 310 Harrow 19,971 1,643 8.2 2,265 11.3 392 North Tyneside 17,027 3,485 20.5 4,184 24.6 810 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 28,446 6,1 16 21.6 8,017 28.2 870 Reading6 — — — — — 846 Brighton and Hove6 — — — — — 880 Torbay6 — — — — — 871 Slough6 — — — — — 372 Rotherham 25,822 5,283 20.5 6,298 24.4 879 Plymouth6 — — — — — 357 Tameside 23,830 5,001 21.0 5,703 23.9 808 Stockton-on-Tees 20,531 4,413 21.5 5,206 25.4 882 Southend-on-Sea6 — — — — — 370 Barnsley 22,216 4,765 21.4 5,910 26.6 373 Sheffield 46,380 9,686 20.9 12,895 27.8 312 Hillingdon 22,440 2,017 9.0 2,745 12.2 874 Peterborough6 — — — — — 317 Redbridge 21,103 3,204 15.2 4,036 19.1 371 Doncaster 31,343 7,198 23.0 8,280 26.4 921 Isle of Wight 7,387 1,424 19.3 1,767 23.9 383 Leeds 71,508 12,795 17.9 15,974 22.3 841 Darlington6 — — — — — 840 Durham6 — — — — — 894 Telford and Wrekin6 — — — — — 831 Derby6 — — — — — 342 St. Helens 18,027 3,733 20.7 4,275 23.7 302 Barnet 25,979 3,711 14.3 4,625 17.8 336 Wolverhampton 26,293 5,282 20.1 6,644 25.3 812 North East Lincolnshire 17,265 3,756 21.8 4,211 24.4 335 Walsall 28,743 5,896 20.5 7,081 24.6 331 Coventry 30,478 5,482 18.0 6,726 22.1 380 Bradford 42,327 8,656 20.5 10,661 25.2 394 Sunderland 30,149 7,235 24.0 8,984 29.8 333 Sandwell 32,962 7,061 21.4 8,870 26.9 807 Redcar and Cleveland 16,680 4,152 24.9 4,817 28.9 390 Gateshead 18,566 4,231 22.8 4,995 26.9 353 Oldham 25,111 5,618 22.4 6,747 26.9 805 Hartlepool 10,538 2,732 25.9 3,205 30.4 306 Croydon 30,432 6,379 21.0 7,800 25.6 852 Southampton6 — — — — — 801 Bristol, City of 33,642 7,602 22.6 9,103 27.1 313 Hounslow 19,828 4,049 20.4 5,137 25.9 890 Blackpool6 — — — — — 876 Halton6 — — — — — 821 Luton6 — — — — — 856 Leicester6 — — — — — 354 Rochdale 22,354 5,373 24.0 6,470 28.9 201 City of London 208 83 39.9 107 51.4 301 Barking and Dagenham 17,883 3,873 21.7 4,712 26.3 889 Blackburn with Darwen6 — — — — — 307 Ealing 27,213 5,591 20.5 6,927 25.5 320 Waltham Forest 21,411 5,387 25.2 6,715 31.4 308 Enfield 26,028 4,695 18.0 5,620 21.6 861 Stoke-on-Trent6 — — — — — 344 Wirral 31.875 8,217 25.8 9,632 30.2 393 South Tyneside 16,175 4,818 29.8 5,693 35.2 304 Brent 22,478 5,696 25.3 6,420 28.6 892 Nottingham6 — — — — — 212 Wandsworth 17,874 5,175 29.0 6,305 35.3 209 Lewisham 21,984 6,370 29.0 8,052 36.6 806 Middlesbrough 17,267 4,876 28.2 5,718 33.1 355 Salford 23,828 7,019 29.5 8,128 34.1 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 22,220 7,259 32.7 8,552 38.5 340 Knowsley 19,788 6,915 34.9 8,701 44.0 341 Liverpool 49,345 16,852 34.2 20,283 41.1 309 Haringey 21,610 7,096 32.8 8,279 38.3 203 Greenwich 21,608 6,804 31.5 8,408 38.9 316 Newham 28,543 8,487 29.7 11,094 38.9 330 Birmingham 109,673 32,572 29.7 39,245 35.8 210 Southwark 23,132 8,606 37.2 10,744 46.4 213 Westminster 9,604 3,413 35.5 4,247 44.2 208 Lambeth 19,193 7,309 38.1 8.695 45.3 207 Kensington and Chelsea 6,568 2,324 35.4 3,000 45.7 204 Hackney 18,141 8,046 44.4 9,824 54.2 352 Manchester 46,356 17,956 38.7 21,431 46.2 206 Islington 16,232 6,66)3 41.0 8,049 49.6 202 Camden 11,294 4,130 36.6 5,046 44.7 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,465 3,763 39.8 4,440 46.9 211 Tower Hamlets 22,472 10,211 45.4 13,292 59.1 902 Bedfordshire 44,748 7,484 16.7 9,187 20.5 903 Berkshire 64,851 6,828 10.5 8,047 12.4 904 Buckinghamshire 66,291 4,227 6.4 5,641 8.5 905 Cambridgeshire 60,924 7,840 12.9 9,945 16.3 906 Cheshire 92,727 14,177 15.3 16,155 17.4 910 Derbyshire 89,462 13,507 15.1 15,468 17.3 911 Devon 84,938 13,450 15.8 16,027 18.9 912 Dorset 48,479 4,117 8.5 4,684 9.7 913 Durham 57,442 11,478 20.0 13,105 22.8 914 East Sussex 55,821 8,804 15.8 11,372 20.4 915 Essex 136,385 18,654 13.7 23,090 16.9 917 Hampshire 139.425 17,054 12.2 20.493 14.7 918 Hereford and Worcester 52,887 4,304 8.1 5,077 9.6 922 Kent 137,962 19,946 14.5 24,746 17.9 923 Lancashire 135,058 24,719 18.3 31,679 23.5 924 Leicestershire 83,027 11,251 13.6 13,623 16.4 930 Nottinghamshire 96,403 17,975 18.6 22,789 23.6 932 Shropshire 38,067 5,442 14.3 6,169 16.2 934 Staffordshire 96,437 15,286 15.9 18,213 18.9 939 Wiltshire 51,809 5,723 11.0 6,954 13.4
Number of pupils on roll4 Number of pupils taking a free school meal on Census Day Percentage of pupils taking a free school meal on the Census Day2 Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals3 England5 4,151,970 553,560 13.3 667,180 16.1 420 Isles of Scilly 252 0 0.0 0 0.0 857 Rutland6 2,521 94 3.7 108 4.3 872 Wokingham6 12,164 419 3.4 555 4.6 836 Poole6 10,338 459 4.4 485 4.7 825 Buckinghamshire6 39,646 1,370 3.5 1,938 4.9 835 Dorset6 24,747 1,006 4.1 1,203 4.9 938 West Sussex 57,554 2,433 4.2 3,081 5.4 925 Lincolnshire 52,805 2,379 4.5 2,924 5.5 867 Bracknell Forest6 8,811 426 4.8 601 6.8 865 Wiltshire6 35,512 2,074 5.8 2,460 6.9 314 Kingston upon Thames 11,638 712 6.1 816 7.0 855 Leicestershire6 48,257 2,756 5.7 3,374 7.0 868 Windsor and Maidenhead6 8,470 451 5.3 617 7.3 869 West Berkshire6 12,045 713 5.9 896 7.4 936 Surrey 78,463 4,868 6.2 5,921 7.5 803 South Gloucestershire 22,228 1,300 5.8 1,680 7.6 815 North Yorkshire 44,563 2,858 6.4 3,460 7.8 933 Somerset 36,781 2,425 6.6 2,946 8.0 919 Hertfordshire 92,173 6,126 6.6 7,455 8.1 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 25,694 1.649 6.4 2,142 8.3 884 Herefordshire6 12,985 890 6.9 1,082 8.3 873 Cambridgeshire6 43,878 3,037 6.9 3,673 8.4 885 Worcestershire6 38,329 2,807 7.3 3,248 8.5 850 Hampshire6 97,202 6,495 6.7 8,347 8.6 866 Swindon6 16,906 1,180 7.0 1,494 8.8 893 Shropshire6 21,896 1,673 7.6 1,943 8.9 931 Oxfordshire 46,437 3,117 6.7 4,183 9.0 318 Richmond upon Thames 12,948 955 7.4 1,178 9.1 877 Warrington6 17,389 1,344 7.7 1,600 9.2 928 Northamptonshire 56,463 4,038 7.2 5,260 9.3 916 Gloucestershire 43,458 3,561 8.2 4,131 9.5 937 Warwickshire 40,986 3,296 8.0 3,989 9.7 800 Bath and North East Somerset 12,172 985 8.1 1,201 9.9 816 York 13,443 1,097 8.2 1,338 10.0 878 Devon6 53,189 4,109 7.7 5,295 10.0 860 Staffordshire6 63,925 5,396 8.4 6,465 10.1 881 Essex6 107,125 9,430 8.8 10,801 10.1 303 Bexley 20,689 1,640 7.9 2,100 10.2 802 North Somerset 14,897 1,205 8.1 1,514 10.2 935 Suffolk 45,739 3,693 8.1 4,695 10.3 820 Bedfordshire6 24,938 2,188 8.8 2,604 10.4 875 Cheshire6 54,527 4,974 9.1 5,707 10.5 358 Trafford 19,224 1,830 9.5 2,038 10.6 908 Cornwall 39,150 3,695 9.4 4,303 11.0 356 Stockport 23,415 2,219 9.5 2,653 11.3 886 Kent6 110,266 10,448 9.5 12,458 11.3 887 Medway6 22,472 2,175 9.7 2,535 11.3 311 Havering 19,402 1,618 8.3 2,217 11.4 334 Solihull 19,897 1,681 8.4 2,274 11.4 891 Nottinghamshire6 63,381 5,676 9.0 7,291 11.5 845 East Sussex6 36,289 3,491 9.6 4,232 11.7 305 Bromley 23,928 2,364 9.9 2.861 12.0 830 Derbyshire6 62,369 6,312 10.1 7,501 12.0 315 Merton 14,980 1,437 9.6 1,811 12.1 929 Northumberland 19,358 2,140 11.1 2,343 12.1 826 Milton Keynes6 20,989 1,948 9.3 2,606 12.4 837 Bournemouth6 10,525 1,054 10.0 1,321 12.6 909 Cumbria 39,741 4,457 11.2 5,066 12.7 319 Sutton 14,800 1,547 10.5 1,916 12.9 813 North Lincolnshire 13,986 1,602 11.5 1,828 13.1 883 Thurrock6 13,812 1,432 10.4 1,854 13.4 926 Norfolk 65,134 7,060 10.8 8,763 13.5 351 Bury 15,995 1,899 11.9 2,186 13.7 888 Lancashire6 93,269 11,351 12.2 12,951 13.9 381 Calderdale 18,661 2,363 12.7 2,699 14.5 332 Dudley 28,281 3,386 12.0 4,271 15.1 359 Wigan 26,162 3,303 12.6 4,076 15.6 343 Sefton 23,307 2,865 12.3 3,717 15.9 384 Wakefield 28,722 3,569 12.4 4,571 15.9 382 Kirklees 35,811 4,843 13.5 5,738 16.0 350 Bolton 25,438 3,743 14.7 4,099 16.1 851 Portsmouth6 14,071 1,775 12.6 2,299 16.3 310 Harrow 19,593 2,917 14.9 3,211 16.4 392 North Tyneside 16,171 2,301 14.2 2,653 16.4 810 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 22,033 3,081 14.0 3,620 16.4 870 Reading6 10,223 1,424 13.9 1,678 16.4 846 Brighton and Hove6 17,080 2,186 12.8 2,818 16.5 880 Torbay6 9,836 1,312 13.3 1,625 16.5 871 Slough6 11,554 1,558 13.5 1,917 16.6 372 Rotherham 23,690 3,251 13.7 4,010 16.9 879 Plymouth6 19,274 2,696 14.0 3,253 16.9 357 Tameside 20,088 3,027 15.1 3,417 17.0 808 Stockton-on-Tees 17,269 2,682 15.5 2,947 17.1 882 Southend-on-Sea6 14,152 1,896 13.4 2,450 17.3 370 Barnsley 20,433 2,936 14.4 3,556 17.4 373 Sheffield 42,561 6,157 14.5 7,435 17.5 312 Hillingdon 24,099 3,249 13.5 4,235 17.6 874 Peterborough6 15,274 2,386 15.6 2,684 17.6 317 Redbridge 24,124 3,268 13.5 4,263 17.7 371 Doncaster 27,165 4,180 15.4 4,809 17.7 921 Isle of Wight 6,995 994 14.2 1,244 17.8 383 Leeds 61,446 9,009 14.7 11,247 18.3 841 Darlington6 8,848 1,393 15.7 1,639 18.5 840 Durham6 41,360 6,451 15.6 7,751 18.7 894 Telford and Wrekin6 15,160 2,350 15.5 2,828 18.7 831 Derby6 21,605 3,396 15.7 4,089 18.9 342 St. Helens 15,575 2,432 15.6 3,021 19.4 302 Barnet 26,041 4,225 16.2 5,087 19.5 336 Wolverhampton 22,709 3,631 16.0 4,418 19.5 812 North East Lincolnshire 14,029 2,074 14.8 2,788 19.9 335 Walsall 26,077 3,964 15.2 5,216 20.0 331 Coventry 27,015 4,455 16.5 5,430 20.1 380 Bradford 51,314 8,485 16.5 10,331 20.1 394 Sunderland 24,273 4,377 18.0 4,919 20.3 333 Sandwell 29,887 4,950 16.6 6,128 20.5 807 Redcar and Cleveland 13,242 2,456 18.5 2,709 20.5 390 Gateshead 16,205 2,901 17.9 3,399 21.0 353 Oldham 23,302 4,274 18.3 4,910 21.1 805 Hartlepool 9,195 1,802 19.6 1,948 21.2 306 Croydon 29,389 4,919 16.7 6,301 21.4 852 Southampton6 16,039 2,737 17.1 3,437 21.4 801 Bristol, City of 29,374 5,282 18.0 6,373 21.7 313 Hounslow 18,924 3,505 18.5 4,116 21.8 890 Blackpool6 11,812 2,111 17.9 2,635 22.3 876 Halton6 10,170 1,978 19.4 2,277 22.4 821 Luton6 18,468 3,645 19.7 4.228 22.9 856 Leicester6 28,260 5,732 20.3 6,620 23.4 354 Rochdale 19,595 3,797 19.4 4,642 23.7 201 City of London 231 49 21.2 55 23.8 301 Barking and Dagenham 18,485 3,762 20.4 4,432 24.0 889 Blackburn with Darwen6 14,770 2,986 20.2 3,548 24.0 307 Ealing 26,059 5,101 19.6 6,276 24.1 320 Waltham Forest 21,753 4,408 20.3 5,350 24.6 308 Enfield 27,198 5,712 21.0 6,727 24.7 861 Stoke-on-Trent6 20,841 4,535 21.8 5,173 24.8 344 Wirral 26,456 5,384 20.4 6,682 25.3 393 South Tyneside 12,751 2,799 22.0 3,222 25.3 304 Brent 23,128 5,454 23.6 6.238 27.0 892 Nottingham6 23,537 5,327 22.6 6,356 27.0 212 Wandsworth 17,412 4,244 24.4 4,741 27.2 209 Lewisham 21,971 4,579 20.8 6.121 27.9 806 Middlesbrough 13,926 3,397 24.4 3,889 27.9 355 Salford 19,464 4,944 25.4 5,532 28.4 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 19.694 4,995 25.4 5,630 28.6 340 Knowsley 15,518 3,586 23.1 4,538 29.2 341 Liverpool 38,211 10,018 26.2 12,320 32.2 309 Haringey 21,964 6,127 27.9 7,189 32.7 203 Greenwich 21,206 5,484 25.9 7,070 33.3 316 Newham 30,544 8,617 28.2 10,164 33.3 330 Birmingham 101,191 28,241 27.9 33,745 33.3 210 Southwark 22,848 6,482 28.4 7,896 34.6 213 Westminster 11,021 3,662 33.2 4,028 36.5 208 Lambeth 20,096 6,402 31.9 7,492 37.3 207 Kensington and Chelsea 7,052 2,309 32.7 2,713 38.5 204 Hackney 18,051 6,002 33.3 7,038 39.0 352 Manchester 40,814 14,037 34.4 16,848 41.3 206 Islington 14,292 5,031 35.2 6,016 42.1 202 Camden 11,436 3,807 33.3 4,888 42.7 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,707 3,687 38.0 4,163 42.9 211 Tower Hamlets 22,397 9,651 43.1 11,798 52.7 902 Bedfordshire — — — — — 903 Berkshire — — — — — 904 Buckinghamshire — — — — — 905 Cambridgeshire — — — — — 906 Cheshire — — — — — 910 Derbyshire — — — — — 911 Devon — — — — — 912 Dorset — — — — — 913 Durham — — — — — 914 East Sussex — — — — — 915 Essex — — — — — 917 Hampshire — — — — — 918 Hereford and Worcester — — — — — 922 Kent — — — — — 923 Lancashire — — — — — 924 Leicestershire — — — — — 930 Nottinghamshire — — — — — 932 Shropshire — — — — — 934 Staffordshire — — — — — 939 Wiltshire — — — — — 1 Includes dually registered pupils. Excludes boarding pupils. 2 The number of pupils taking a free school meal on the Census Day expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils on roll. 3 The number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils on roll. 4 Includes dually registered pupils. Includes boarding pupils. 5 National totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. 6 Before Local Government Reorganisation. 7 Provisional. Source: Schools’ Census
The Department has commissioned research to assess compliance with statutory National Nutritional Standards and to measure food consumption in maintained schools in England. A study of ‘School Meals in Secondary Schools in England’ reported in 2004 (DfES Research Report 557). A similar ‘Study of School Meals in Primary Schools in England’ has been conducted, and reported on 29 June 2006 (DfES Research Report 753).
The Annual Schools Census collects data on free school meal eligibility and take up. An internal DfES survey of local authorities (LA) was conducted in November 2005 to assess the nature of school meal provision and providers, the patter of commercial provision and contractual arrangements.
The Department has asked the School Food Trust (SFT) as part of its remit to monitor progress on school meals and report regularly to the Department. The SFT plans to collect information about school meals provision using several approaches. First, they are working with Ofsted and the national Healthy Schools Programme to develop a way of assessing whether or not the new DfES standards for school meals are being met. The intention is for this to be completed by early 2007. Second, they plan to undertake national sample surveys of primary and secondary schools’ food provision and consumption, similar to the two studies commissioned by the Department. These provide baseline information against which the change in the national profile of provision and consumption of foods in school meals can be evaluated. The timing and scale of the national sample surveys will be confirmed by the end of August 2006. Finally, the SFT has just completed a survey addressed to all local authority catering providers in England to assess school meal take-up, the costs of providing a school meal, factors believed to be associated with increases or decreases in take-up, and perceived barriers to change. The survey will be published in July 2006 and repeated annually at the end of each financial year.
School Principals
The following table provides the average number of hours worked by head, deputy and assistant head teachers in primary and secondary schools in a week in March 2005. This is the latest information available.
Average hours Primary Head teachers 52.9 Deputy/assistant heads 55.7 Secondary Head teachers 62.6 Deputy/assistant 58.1 Source: Teachers’ Workload Diary Survey, March 2005, School Teachers’ Review Body.
School Sports Facilities
The Building Schools for the Future programme adopts an area approach to transforming secondary provision. For each phase of the programme, local authorities are required to develop an educational vision in line with our guidance, which takes into account a range of policy areas, including PE and sport facilities, and community use. Our Building Schools for the Future guidance to local authorities covers the preparation of educational visions, joining-up all potential sources of funding and the design of school buildings and facilities. This Department is also represented in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s “Sports Facilities Infrastructure Programme”.
Schools Commissioner
(2) when he will appoint the Schools Commissioner;
(3) what performance objectives will be used to determine the bonus paid to the Schools Commissioner.
21 candidates applied for the post of Schools Commissioner and three were invited to the final selection panel.
The panel members are:
Mary-Jo Jacobi, Civil Service Commissioner (Chair)
David Bell, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education and Skills
Ralph Jabberer, Director General for Schools, Department for Education and Skills
Dr. Philip Hunter, Chief School Adjudicator.
The outcome of the competition will be announced as soon as possible after the selection process has been completed and is likely to be during July 2006. A performance agreement, including business objectives, will be put in place with the Schools Commissioner when they take up post. This will be the basis on which any bonus award is assessed.
Special Advisers
[holding answer 27 June 2006]: Special advisers conduct themselves in accordance with the requirements of the ‘Code of Conduct for Special Advisers’.
Staff Absenteeism
[holding answer 19 June 2006]: The information is set out in the following table.
Department/calendar year Days lost per staff year Estimated cost of absence (£ million) Education and Skills 2004 9.0 3.3 2003 10.3 4.4 2002 9.8 3.8 2001 8.4 3.3 Education and Employment 2000 7.7 2.9 Employment Service Agency 2000 11.8 29.3 Education and Employment 1999 7.6 2.6 Employment Service Agency 1999 11.5 27.4 Education and Employment 1998 8.2 2.7 Employment Service Agency 1998 11.0 24.8
The data are taken from the report “Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service”, which Cabinet Office publishes annually. The information in the “Days lost per staff year” column is quoted directly from the reports; the “Estimated cost of absence” is based on the average basic salary used in each report.
For the years 1998 to 2003, data for the Department for Education and Skills and the former Department for Education and Employment included staff in the Government Office network. In the 2004 report “Government Offices” is shown as a separate Department.
Student Finance
The table shows the number of pre-1998 mortgage-style student loan accounts with debt collection agencies, as at 31 March of each year. Data for 1997/08 are not available.
Number 1999 13,586 2000 17,423 2001 19,244 2002 13,005 2003 11,100 2004 15,955 2005 27,504 2006 21,758
On average, referrals to debt collection agents represent 1.8 per cent. of the total number of borrowers. These data should not be equated with the number of loan accounts in arrears; cases may be referred more than once in a year and debt collection agents are asked to locate borrowers as well as to collect loans.
There was a particular drive in 2004/05 to tackle longstanding cases via external collection agents but the volume of referrals to collection agents, and the numbers of accounts in arrears are now decreasing.
There have been no referrals to collection agents of cases under the post 1998 income contingent loan scheme.
Student Safety
[holding answer 3 July 2006]: The Department for Communities and Local Government recently published guidance for schools on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, “Fire Safety Risk Assessment—Educational Premises”. This states that the responsibility for complying with the Fire Safety Order rests with the “responsible person”. With a school maintained by a local authority, the duties of the responsible person are likely to be shared between the local authority, the governing body and the head teacher. One of the prime duties of the responsible person is to appoint one or more competent persons—someone with sufficient training, knowledge and experience to carry out the preventive and protective measures required by the Fire Safety Order. The guidance covers what these are. In Part 1, section 3.41 deals with fire detection and warning systems, and 3.42 with firefighting equipment and facilities. They give advice on what to look for in school premises and provide checklists for both detection and firefighting.
Sure Start
There are two Sure Start children's centres up and running in the constituency of Yeovil offering services to 1,815 children under five and their families including 58 child care places. In Somerset there are 14 children's centres offering services to 10,4011 children under five and their families including 237 child care places. In the south-west as a whole there are 78 children's centres offering services to 57,1552 children under five and their families including 2,234 child care places. Data on how many children have accessed services are based on information collected for Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) because data on numbers using children's centres are not yet available.
There are no Sure Start local programmes in the Yeovil constituency. 2,139 children under four live in areas covered by three SSLPs in Somerset. In all 24,613 children under four live in areas covered by 31 SSLPs in the south-west. The latest information available (at March 2005) shows on average 30 per cent.3 of children in the Somerset and on average 25 per cent.4of children overall in SSLPs in the south-west had significant contact (that is, a home visit or attendance at a centre-based activity) with Sure Start.
Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) were set up between 1999 and 2003 offering a range of services to children under four years of age and their families living in defined areas. In 2002, Mini Sure Start programmes were set up in rural areas and pockets of deprivation that would not normally be covered by larger SSLPs. All SSLPs and mini programmes are becoming Sure Start children's centres and will offer services to children under five years of age and their families. Information about the percentage of children reached by SSLP services is now collected once a year. The Department does not keep data on how many children have participated in Mini Sure Start programmes. However, each programme typically covers between 150 and 170 children under four in their catchment areas.
1 10,401 children include 2,139 children previously served by the three SSLPs across Somerset that have become children's centres.
2 57,155 children include 24,613 children previously served by the 31 SSLPs across the south-west that have become children's centres.
Source:
Sure Start Local Programme data returns March 2005.
Teach First
Teach First was launched in 2003 and, of the first cohort to complete the two year programme, approximately 45 per cent. have stayed in teaching.
Teachers
The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular qualified teachers in service in the East Riding of Yorkshire local authority for each January from 2000 to 2005, the latest year available. This information is not available broken down by subject taught.
Total FTE 2000 2,420 2001 2,510 2002 2,530 2003 2,590 2004 2,590 2005 2,630 Source: Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, (618g).
Tuition Fees
The number of students from Somerset local authority, and the South West Government Office Region making no contribution to their tuition fees in 2004/05 was £2,830, and £29,700 respectively1. Data are not available at the constituency level.
Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds are wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
From 2006/07 upfront fees are abolished and full-time students will be eligible for tuition fee loans of up to £3,000. In addition, we expect around 30 per cent. of students to receive a maximum maintenance grant of £2,700 and an HE institution bursary of at least £300. Overall, we expect around half of all eligible students to receive at least some maintenance grant.
1 Rounded to the nearest 10 students.
The number of students from Sunderland local authority making no contribution to their tuition fees in 2004/05 was 1,7401. Data are not available at the constituency level.
Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds are wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
From 2006/07 up-front fees are abolished and full-time students will be eligible for tuition fee loans of up to £3,000. In addition, we expect around 30 per cent. of students to receive a maximum maintenance grant of £2,700 and an HE institution bursary of at least £300. Overall, we expect around half of all eligible students to receive at least some maintenance grant.
1 Rounded to the nearest 10 students.
University Ranking
(2) what recent representations his Department has received on establishing its own criteria for ranking universities.
We have received no formal recent representations on criteria to rank universities nor do we have any immediate plans to create a ranking system. However, we have started to make more comparative information available to prospective students. However, there is currently no consensus on how English higher education institutions could be ranked taking due account of their increasingly diverse size and missions and distinguishing between inputs and outputs. We will listen to any suggestions on possible ways forward.
Weapons (Schools)
School security is a local matter. Under health and safety law, it is for individual school employers to determine what measures a school should take to keep pupils and staff safe. In the main, schools are very safe places and the majority of pupils have never carried a knife. It is a criminal offence to carry an offensive weapon on school premises. Where schools have suspicions they can call the police, and should do so if they believe pupils or staff are at risk of serious harm. Schools and local police can agree a Safer School Partnership to prevent crime in and around a school. We also propose a power in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to enable schools to search, without consent, pupils they suspect are carrying a knife or other weapon.
Home Department
Animal Experiments
In 2004, 595 project licences were applied for and of those 413 were granted in 2004, 122 in 2005 and two in 2006. None were formally refused. Nineteen are still being processed. Thirty nine applications are recorded as not proceeded with.
A feature of the regulatory regime under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is the discussion that often takes place at an early stage between applicants (or prospective applicants) and the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate. This means that proposals unlikely to meet the Act’s stringent requirements are revised or withdrawn before formal refusal becomes necessary.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
The available information is given in the following table:
Males (age) Females (age) Period 10-17 18+ Unknown Total 10-17 18+ Unknown Total 1 June to 31 December 2000 1 1 — 2 — — — — 2001 25 2 1 8 — 1 — 1 2002 2 2 — 4 — 1 — 1 2003 4 5 — 9 — — — — 2004 15 17 — 32 — 5 1 6 1 January to 30 September 2005 3 14 1 18 — 2 1 3 Total 30 41 2 73 — 9 2 11
Period 10-17 18+ Unknown Total 1 June to 31 December 2000 1 1 — 2 2001 5 3 1 9 2002 2 3 — 5 2003 4 5 — 9 2004 15 22 1 38 1 January to 30 September 2005 3 16 2 21 Total 30 50 4 84 1 From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000 data were collected on aggregate numbers only by police force area. 2 Includes one order made at Bristol magistrates court—petty sessional area only known.
Asylum/Immigration
Any document presented by an applicant at their screening interview in relation to their identity, nationality or route taken to the UK is retained by the screening officer, the applicant is given a copy, and a copy placed on file.
The screening form includes a question 7.38 “What other documents do you have (Record full details and attach copies of all documents to this screening form)”. The applicant and screening officer both sign the screening form at the end of the interview.
The Casework Integrated Database has a field for recording documents that have been submitted, the screening officer will update that field, any additional entries will be recorded under the name of the officer who added the information. CID would also record the date and time of any amendments.
It is also practice in the ASU to record on the file minute sheet documents that have been retained.
Where an individual in question is assessed as posing a security risk, and is overseas and is seeking to enter the United Kingdom, they will be excluded. Those applicants assessed as posing a security risk who are already present in the UK, we will seek to deport, consistent with our international human rights obligations.
All Home Office employees are expected to demonstrate competency in the English language. For those in more operational roles such as immigration officers there is a provision to demonstrate proficiency in languages other than English.
The policy on the quality of casework decisions made by staff is kept under constant review.
This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The immigration and nationality directorate website was re-launched on Wednesday 7 June 2006. Visitors to the site should now find it much faster to access. During the time the site was running slowly, the IND web team received approximately 600 complaints.
CCTV
The scheme in Beverley was installed at a cost of £203,000. The local police in Beverley have indicated that the presence of CCTV plays an important part in their operational work to prevent and detect crime. The quality of cameras, colour images on screens, recording, storage and photographic reproduction provides the possibility of admissible evidence for court proceedings against offenders.
Compensation Claims
I have been asked to reply.
Any party who qualifies for legal aid under the standard means and merits criteria can obtain legal advice and information, or legal representation, for any civil proceedings which are within the scope of the legal aid scheme, including proceedings against the Crown Prosecution Service and the police.
Correspondence
I replied to my right hon. Friend on 16 March 2006.
Crime Statistics (Suffolk)
The information requested is given below.
Number of offences 2000-01 5,738 2001-02 6,346 Note: The data in this table is prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
Number of offences 2002-03 6,248 2003-04 6,396 2004-05 5,090 Note: The data in this table takes account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
Criminal Records Bureau
Capita do not operate the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). The disclosure service operates as a contract between the Criminal Records Bureau and Capita Business Services based upon a public private partnership agreement. Under this agreement, Capita are required to perform contractually specified services and to develop, deliver and maintain the technical infrastructure of the disclosure service. This is to enable the Home Office to discharge its responsibilities under part V of the Police Act 1997 and other supporting legislation, including the Protection of Children Act 1999, to make available to approved organisations information regarding the criminal or related background of individuals.
Other services carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau that are not undertaken by Capita are carried out by civil servants and include the sensitive matching of an applicants personal details to records held on the Police National Computer (PNC) and other lists held by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills.
A contract schedule sets out the service levels for Capita to meet. A further schedule sets out the service credits that apply should Capita fail to meet the agreed service levels. There is provision within this contract for liquidated damages to be charged in the event of late delivery to agreed changes in the service.
In each year since financial year 2001-02, the following payments have been received from Capita for service credits and liquidated damages:
Amount (£) 2001-02 555,000 2002-03 1,718,000 2003-04 1,528,000 2004-05 53,000 2005-06 92,000
The hon. Member will appreciate that with a contract of this size and complexity, the CRB would not be able to list and explain the context of each occasion when service credits and liquidated damages have occurred without employing disproportionate resources.
However, as an illustration, between August 2001 and November 2001, liquidated damages were applied due to the delays in launching the disclosure service and some of the associated services. Subsequent service credits were also applied in 2003 for operational delays within the disclosure process. These payments relate to the early years of the service.
The contract was originally estimated at £400 million to run over 10 years. In each year since financial year 2001-02, CRB have paid Capita the following as service payments:
Amount 2001-02 12.1 2002-03 33.5 2003-04 58.5 2004-05 44.1 2005-06 47
There have been no performance related-payments made in any of the above financial years.
Departmental Grants
The information could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Legislation
The following is a list of all Government Bills and Private Member's/Peer's Bills on Home Office subjects that have received Royal Assent since the beginning of the 1995-96 session.
Royal Assent received during the 1995-96 session
Wild Mammals (Protection) Act
Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Act
Law Reform (Year and a Day Rule) Act
Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act
Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act
Offensive Weapons Act
Security Service Act
Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act
Hong Kong (War Wives and Widows) Act
Prisoners' Earnings Act
Asylum and Immigration Act
Royal Assent received during the 1996-97 session
Theft (Amendment) Act
Horserace Totalisator Board Act
Firearms (Amendment) Act
Knives Act
British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act
Crime (Sentences) Act
Police Act
Police and Firemen's Pensions Act
Protection from Harassment Act
Sex Offenders Act
Public Entertainments Licences (Drug Misuse) Act
Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act
Prisons (Alcohol Testing) Act
Criminal Evidence (Amendment) Act
Police (Health and Safety) Act
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act
Police (Property) Act
Police (Insurance of Voluntary Assistants) Act
Dangerous Dogs Amendment Act
Royal Assent received during the 1997-98 session
Firearms (Amendment) (No.2) Act
Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act
Criminal Justice (International Co-Operation) Act
Data Protection Act
Crime and Disorder Act
Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act
Human Rights Act
Registration of Political Parties Act
Royal Assent received during the 1998-99 session
European Parliamentary Elections Act
Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act
Football (Offences and Disorder) Act
Criminal Cases Review (Insanity) Act
Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act
Immigration and Asylum Act
Royal Assent received during the 1999-2000 session
Representation of the People Act
Terrorism Act
Football (Disorder) Act
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act
Licensing (Young Persons) Act
Disqualifications Act
Freedom of Information Act
Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act
Race Relations (Amendment) Act
Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act
Criminal Justice and Court Services Act
Royal Assent received during the 2000-01 session
Vehicles (Crime) Act
Election Publications Act
Elections Act
Criminal Justice and Police Act
House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act
Private Security Industry Act
Royal Assent received during the 2001-02 session
Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act
Football Disorder (Amendment) Act
Proceeds of Crime Act
Police Reform Act
Mobile Telephones (Reprogramming) Act
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act
Royal Assent received during the 2002-03 session
Criminal Justice Act
Sexual Offences Act
Crime (International Co-operation) Act
Extradition Act
Antisocial behaviour Act
Female Genital Mutilation Act.
Royal Assent received during the 2003-04 session.
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act
Domestic Violence, Crime & Victims Act
Royal Assent received during the 2004-05 session
Prevention of Terrorism Act
Serious Organised Crime and Police Act
Drugs Act
Royal Assent received during the 2005-06 session
Racial & Religious Hatred Act
Identity Cards Act
Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Act
Terrorism Act
The following Bills on Home Office subjects are currently before Parliament:
The Charities Bill
The Fraud Bill
The Police and Justice Bill
The Violent Crime Reduction Bill
The following table lists the number of statutory instruments, Orders in Council and local orders made by the Home Office in each year since 1996:
Statutory Instruments Orders in Council Local Orders Total 1996 77 24 10 111 1997 135 48 8 191 1998 97 28 15 140 1999 90 14 9 113 2000 126 21 5 152 2001 118 18 2 138 2002 136 11 0 147 2003 146 10 1 157 2004 145 1 1 147 2005 127 3 1 131 2006 37 1 1 39 Total — — — 1,466
Deportations
[holding answer 3 May 2006]: We would not expect there to be any significant exposure to liability in civil law applying the normal principles. Victims of violent crime are of course entitled to apply for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the normal way.
DNA Database
Requests for the exchange of DNA information between the United Kingdom and other countries are usually made through the United Kingdom National Central Bureau for Interpol (UK NCB) based at the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). Other requests may be made as a result of bi-lateral direct liaison between law enforcement authorities; and formal mutual legal assistance channels.
We understand from SOCA that it has not received any requests from other countries for details from the National DNA Database concerning people who had a DNA sample taken and added to the database when they were under 18 years of age and who were not charged or cautioned with any offence. No data are available on the number, if any, of exchanges of DNA information in such cases which occur through direct liaison between law enforcement authorities or formal mutual legal assistance channels.
Drug Intervention Programme
I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member on 1 March 2006, Official Report, column 811W.
Ethnic Minority Community Liaison
All Home Secretaries and their Ministers meet with representative groups from an array of countries and organisations during the course of their duties.
Foreign Criminals
The information requested is not available centrally and establishing it from case files would incur disproportionate cost.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: No. The policy on categorisation remains unchanged. The overriding purpose of categorisation remains to ensure that prisoners are retained in custody with a level of security consistent with the need to protect the public.
Knives
Figures for the number of items handed in during the first week of the knife amnesty have been collected at police force level. Humberside police report that 259 items were surrendered to them. 17,715 items were handed in England and Wales during the first week of the amnesty. We worked closely with ACPO to develop the arrangements for the amnesty, which was part of our wider strategy to tackle knife crime. We are also focusing on legislation, enforcement, education and prevention. We have brought forward provisions in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill that will raise the age at which someone can be sold a knife to 18; are introducing a new offence of using someone to mind a weapon; and giving head teachers powers to search pupils for knives. The Home Secretary announced on 19 June that he was giving very serious consideration to the suggestion that the maximum sentence for having a knife or blade in a public place should be increased from the current sentence of two years.
Many police forces are undertaking tough enforcement operations, for example, the Metropolitan police’s Operation Blunt and the British Transport police’s Operation Shield, which uses search equipment to detect those carrying knives and other weapons on our transport network. We are also supporting educational initiatives that demonstrate to young people the dangers of carrying knives, and reinforce the message that carrying a knife can result in it being turned on you. Though our small grants programme, the Connected Fund, we are also supporting a wide range of local community projects which work with young people to provide mentoring, training, education and other support.
Leave to Remain
I am advised that as of 16 June 2006, 20 principal applicants from these countries have outstanding applications.
This figure is from internal management information.
London Terrorist Attacks
[holding answer 8 May 2006]: As at 21 June 2006 the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) had received 522 applications for compensation arising from the incidents on 7 and 21 July 2005. They had offered 255 final awards and 165 interim awards, and had paid out over £2¼ million in respect of these claims.
CICA advise that they have made large interim awards in 17 cases where the injuries might be described as extremely serious. These injuries include loss of one or more limbs, loss of an eye, and serious burns to extensive areas of the body.
CICA have not yet been able to finalise any of these seriously injured cases, as they all involve claims for compensation additional to the basic tariff awards for loss of earnings and special expenses, and in all cases the final prognosis for recovery is not yet clear.
CICA will continue to make substantial interim awards in cases where final settlement is not in prospect, provided they have a police report confirming the claimant’s involvement in one of the incidents and a medical report confirming the nature and extent of the injuries.
We announced on 8 June 2006 that we were making an extra donation of £2.5 million to the London Bombings Relief Charitable Fund to give assistance to bereaved and the injured victims of the 7 July London bombings. The further support was being made on a special, one-off basis in recognition of the exceptional circumstances of the London bombings, rather than under the rules of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, which would require a change to legislation 8 June 2006, Official Report, column 38WS.
North Yorkshire Constabulary
In the period 1 June 2005-31 May 2006 the North Yorkshire constabulary have recruited (a) 114 police officers and (b) 12 police community support officers.
Offenders (Unpaid Work)
It is not possible to give a precise figure but the following table provides a broad estimate of the value of the unpaid work done by offenders since 1995. It takes no account of the costs to the probation service of managing the work. Orders that include unpaid work vary in length but the calculation is based on the average number of hours per order. An allowance has been made for the fact that not all offenders complete their orders. The estimated total number of hours has been multiplied by the national minimum wage for each year. (Because the minimum wage came into force in 1999, the introductory figure of £3.60 has been used for 1995 to 1998.)
Estimated total value (£ million) 1995 18.0 1996 17.5 1997 18.4 1998 19.2 1999 19.2 2000 19.0 2001 18.7 2002 21.1 2003 21.7 2004 24.4
Passports
The number of passport applications received by the Identity and Passport Service (formerly UKPS) in each of the last eight calendar years is in the following table.
A criminal record or a record of antisocial behaviour does not disqualify a British national from holding a passport and applicants are not required to give this information. If notified by the police, the IPS would refuse a passport to a person for whose arrest a warrant had been issued in the United Kingdom, or a person who was wanted by the United Kingdom police on suspicion of a serious crime.
Passport applications 1998 4,834,000 1999 4,685,000 2000 5,150,000 2001 5,692,000 2002 5,570,000 2003 5,635,000 2004 6,134,000 2005 6,539,000
People Trafficking
[holding answer 15 June 2006]: We have no centrally collated data on the numbers of children trafficked into the UK. The Home Office recognises there is an urgent need to improve its intelligence on this issue and for this reason has commissioned a scoping project in partnership with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) to estimate the scale and nature of the problem including source countries. Additionally newly established Minors Intelligence Teams based at Croydon and Liverpool asylum screening units now provide monthly reports on children who have been identified as being at risk, including those that they believe have been trafficked.
[holding answer 3 July 2006]: Both the Attorney General and my hon. Friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety addressed the issue of human trafficking when addressing G8 Justice and Interior Ministers in Moscow 15 and 16 June. They urged that the G8 step up its work in tackling organised human trafficking and referred to a UK-led project to establish ways of further enhancing cooperation and the exchange of intelligence to combat organised trafficking and smuggling.
G8 Justice and Interior Ministers stressed the importance of cooperation with Interpol as well as Europol to enhance the efficiency of cooperation in the fight against smuggling and human trafficking and the use of the Interpol Lost, Stolen and Invalid Passports Database. They also called for increased interaction with relevant UN institutions, as well as the International Organization for Migration, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and the Europol in combating illegal migration.
[holding answer 21 June 2006]: The Council of the European Union’s Framework Decision on combating the trafficking in human beings, places certain obligations on member states to criminalise and prosecute traffickers, and to protect and support victims of trafficking. Under Article 7, paragraph 3 (Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA) member states are obliged to take the measures possible to ensure appropriate assistance for the family of a child victim of trafficking.
All agencies and organisations within the criminal justice system aim to work in partnership to meet the needs of all victims of crime, including young victims. Advice and information will be offered to families in line with the detailed provisions of Article 4, (Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA), cross referenced in Article 7 (Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA), on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings.
[holding answer 20 June 2006]: To date there have been no prosecutions or convictions for trafficking under section 4 and 5 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc.) Act 2004.
Police (Cultural Items)
There is no specific data collected for the number of police officers with responsibility for theft and other crimes relating to cultural items.
As at 31 March 2005, there were 727 full-time equivalent police officers whose main function was “burglary”. This includes staff who predominantly investigate offences of burglary. In the same period there were 16,887 full-time equivalent police officers whose main function was “CID”. This includes staff mainly employed in plain clothes for the investigation of crime, and includes any specialist squads, e.g. robbery.
Prison Education
The length of a person's prison sentence is not the primary determinant for their categorisation. Prisoners are placed in the lowest security category consistent with the needs of security and control and the need to protect the public. Prisoners are subject to a rigorous and robust risk assessment when being categorised. Only prisoners categorised D and therefore considered to pose a low risk of escape and not represent a threat to the public may be placed in open prisons.
Prison Sentences
There is no information recorded on the Court Proceedings database relating to the home addresses of persons sentenced. The information contained in the table shows, however, the number of persons sentenced to immediate custody in the Hartlepool Petty Sessional Area (PSA) (sitting at Hartlepool Magistrates Court) or committed by Hartlepool Magistrates Court to the Crown Court for trial or sentence from 1990 to 2004, the latest year for which data are available.
Number of persons 1990 104 1991 92 1992 106 1993 106 1994 138 1995 161 1996 200 1997 181 1998 247 1999 242 2000 269 2001 292 2002 264 2003 314 2004 260 1 Including cases sentenced at the Crown court following committal from Hartlepool PSA.
Prison Service
As at 31 May 2006, 65 staff were employed in the Prison Service Security Group.
(2) what assessment was made by the Prison Service of the risk of fraud in its latest assessment of business risk; what the date was of the last assessment; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how often within the last five years the Prison Service Fraud Investigation Unit interrogated Prison Service corporate data to identify indicators of fraud; and if he will make a statement.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: There are the equivalent of two full-time staff within the Fraud Investigation Unit, which is contained within the Audit and Corporate Assurance Group. The unit has undertaken 90 investigations over the last five years:
Number of investigations 2001-02 25 2002-03 17 2003-04 14 2004-05 15 2005-06 19
Individual establishments and headquarters groups are required to undertake a fraud risk assessment annually and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to mitigate this risk. In addition, one of the key systems in place to manage one of the Prison Service corporate risks measures the effectiveness of compliance with financial controls and standards. The Prison Service Management Board has assessed this as satisfactory at the last assessment on 24 April 2006.
The Fraud Investigation Unit along with other members of Audit and Corporate Assurance have been fully engaged in advising on the design of major Prison Service systems for human resources, Finance and Procurement, in order to reduce the risk of fraud. Once these systems have been fully implemented, it is intended that the Fraud Investigation Unit will use appropriate software to interrogate corporate data systems. It has not yet happened.
Prisons
Prisoners are categorised according to the risk they present to the public, to the police or to the security of the state.
The security category of a prisoner is assessed, decided, and kept under review in the light of all available information. The processes in place for reviews of category A status for prisoners are set out in Prison Service Order 1010 which provides for annual reviews of categorisation for sentenced prisoners. Records are kept in the prisoners file at prisons and also at Prison Service headquarters.
The Prison Service has responsibility for categorisation of prisoners. The judiciary cannot change the status of a category A prisoner to facilitate their attendance at trial.
This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only by examination of individual records at a disproportionate cost.
Projections of the prison population in 2010 if all prisoners were to serve to their sentence expiry date have not been produced. Prison population projections to 2011 have been produced for a range of scenarios and are published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/05, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.
Prison Service Order 3550 requires that the administration and consumption of prescribed drugs used in maintenance and detoxification programmes is strictly monitored. In possession medication is not indicated for subutex and methadone. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist which does not have the same potential for abuse as methadone and buprenorphine (subutex).
A comprehensive range of measures is in place to reduce the supply of drugs in prisons, including routes from prescribed medication.
Governors are required to notify the police and probation service of the release dates for offenders. In the specific case of high risk offenders coming under Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements, Governors must ensure that all staff involved in sentence calculation, decisions to restore ‘added days’ and facilitating release arrangements for high risk prisoners are aware of the need to advise the police and probation service immediately of any unexpected changes to release dates or release arrangements. In all cases where a prisoner is released on licence, a copy of the licence is sent to the supervising probation service shortly before release, and is updated in the event of any change in release date.
Naltrexone, subutex and methadone are used in the management of those who are addicted to opiates, and as such they can be used as treatment interventions in prison.
Information is not available centrally on the number of prison officers who have been reinstated following dismissal in each of the last three years. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
The impact of the allocation of women prisoners from Bullwood Hall and Brockhill in the women’s estate has been assessed and no overcrowding is expected as a result of this change of function. There is still spare capacity within the women’s estate.
Prison Service Order 0500 requires prison reception staff to interview all incoming prisoners and note their stated nationality in the prisoner’s core record. Any passport or other document providing evidence of the prisoner’s nationality will be examined but prison staff do not have the means to carry out any specific checks to confirm the nationality of prisoners claiming to be British. Prisons will report the details of all prisoners who state that they are foreign nationals or dual nationals, all those whose nationality is initially unclear and all those who refuse to give their nationality to the Immigration Service who will then establish their immigration status.
As the Home Secretary outlined in his ministerial statement of 23 May, officials are now looking at the possibility of placing a legal obligation on those suspected, charged or convicted to declare their nationality.
The Home Office controller for HMP Peterborough is the key official who meets with the prison's director to discuss operational matters, including the release of prisoners. Formal meetings take place monthly and in addition there are informal weekly meetings. Since January 2006 the controller has discussed with the director cases involving the release of eight individual prisoners, including five meetings between April and June concerning the release of foreign national prisoners.
It is a requirement that release licences for prisoners are signed by the Home Office controller in his or her capacity as a Crown servant. As a consequence of this the contractor's custody management team is in regular contact with the controller's team, who make the necessary checks prior to release taking place.
(2) how many prisoners were transferred to HMP Peterborough in the six months to 31 May; from which institutions; how many new prisoners were admitted to HMP Peterborough in the same period; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how many (a) male and (b) female category A prisoners are held at HMP Peterborough; and if he will make a statement.
[holding answer 22 June 2006]: There are no category A prisoners held at HMP Peterborough. From information held on the prison IT system, there were 18 prisoners held in HMP Peterborough on 31 March 2005 (the establishment opened in spring 2005) and 759 held on 30 April 2006, the most recent date for which information has been published; and between 1 October 2005 and 31 March 2006 there were 1,208 first receptions into HMP Peterborough. Comprehensive information on transfers between prisons is not collected routinely and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: Information on re-offending is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: Prisons immediately inform the police in the event of an abscond and provide them with all relevant details of the prisoner. The police are responsible for recapturing prisoners unlawfully at large.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: Centrally held records do not separately identify whether absconders are part of the resettlement programme and this information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: In the financial year ended 31 March 2005, there were 37 reported fraud and theft cases with a total value of 5,902. Of these, there were 10 cases with a value of £4,549 due to theft of property. In the financial year ended 31 March 2006, there were 30 cases of fraud and theft with a total value of £5,268. Of these, there were 15 cases with a total value of £3,157 due to theft of property. The Prison Service is aware of four cases with a total value of £8,169 that occurred in 2005-06 and are still under investigation and not yet recorded in the figures above.
The police are informed of most cases of theft of property but no records are kept centrally of the number of prosecutions resulting.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: No central register of conflicts of interest is available from which readily to obtain the information requested. Each individual establishment or group should maintain its own register. Prison Service directorates are not required to compile a register. Given the time constraints and the disproportionate resource costs involved, it is not possible to provide the figures requested.
No such research has yet been commissioned or evaluated.
According to the prison IT system, (i) the average number of prisoners held in Full Sutton between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 was 588 (average of end-month figures) and (ii) the number serving sentences of more than six months at end April 2006 was 567. Information on the number held in Full Sutton for more than six months is not held centrally.
[holding answer 29 June 2006]: The Home Office and Department of Health have established the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder Programme. This has developed a range of pilot services in prisons, high and medium secure psychiatric services and residential and case management support in the community in four areas of England.
At present only the prison and high secure pilot services provide some national coverage for those who pose the most serious risk to the public. Access to local medium secure and community pilots is only available to local catchment populations in the pilot areas until evaluation is completed (in 2008) and future service roll out is agreed.
HMP Lewes has access to mainstream mental health services through an NHS mental health in-reach which can plan aftercare for prisoners released to the community. The development of new community personality disorder services form part of the local priority service development plans.
The average distance from home area for most women transferred from Brockhill will increase, while remaining within the average for all women prisoners. All women’s prisons have arrangements designed to promote family contact.
Recommendations by HM chief inspector of prisons to close or refurbish prison cells or wing in a prison are considered as part of the National Offender Management Service's building and refurbishment programme. Decisions on which of these are accepted are based on a number of factors, including priorities across the prison estate, funding and any impact in the operation of the prison.
The information requested can be supplied only at a disproportionate cost.
The information requested is not held centrally and may be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
Chaplaincy programmes, which include religious teaching, are developed locally by prison establishments. All prisons have multi faith chaplaincy teams to enable prisoners to participate in religious activities and to encourage their spiritual and personal development whilst in custody and in preparation for release. Chaplaincy teams will run a range of classes and courses depending on the make-up and needs of the prison population. These will include religious education groups or classes, pertinent to all faiths, for those prisoners who wish to attend.
Rendition Flights
(2) whether general aviation reports held by (a) local police special branch and (b) Home Office immigration authorities indicate that non-American nationals were on board registered aircraft N313P landing at (i) RAF Northolt on (A) 19 October 2003, (B) 22 October 2003, (C) 29 October 2003, (D) 1 December 2003, (E) 3 December 2003 and (ii) RAF Brize Norton on (A) 17 October 2003 and (B) 12 December 2003;
(3) whether general aviation reports held by (a) local police special branch and (b) Home Office immigration authorities indicate that non-American nationals were on board registered aircraft N379P landing at (i) RAF Northolt on (A) 18 October 2002, (B) 16 January 2003, (C) 24 February 2003, (D) 28 February 2003 and (ii) RAF Brize Norton on 20 November 2003;
(4) whether general aviation reports held by (a) local police special branch and (b) Home Office immigration authorities indicate that non-American nationals were on board registered aircraft N85VM landing at (i) Luton on (A) 26 December 2001 and (B) 12 November 2002, (ii) Edinburgh on 25 November 2002, (iii) Glasgow on 3 March 2003 and (iv) RAF Leuchars on (A) 14 October 2001, (B) 5 October 2002 and (C) 20 September 2003.
Neither Special Branch nor the Immigration Service hold such information.
Resignation
This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the former Home Secretary.
Security Industry
[holding answer 21 June 2006]: The information is as follows.
(a) 69,553 applications were submitted from the beginning of licensing until 31 October 2005.
(b) 99,239 applications were submitted between 31 October 2005 and 21 June 2006.
Ministers and officials meet the SIA regularly to discuss a range of issues. I became the Minister with responsibility for the SIA on 4 May, and visited the SIA offices on 1 June to meet staff.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 June 2006, Official Report, column 2013W.
The SIA do not calculate average processing times. Some, such as those including overseas criminal records checks, unavoidably take a considerable time. The SIA have a published target of processing 80 per cent. of all applications within six weeks, measured from the date that a properly completed application enters the processing system to the date that a licence is issued. From April 2004 until August 2005 the SIA processed 62 per cent. within six weeks and 88 per cent. within nine weeks. Since September 2005, there has been a backlog of applications that have been waiting to enter the system. These have added an additional time of between two and four weeks to the process, so it is now taking up to 10 weeks to process most applications.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) do not calculate the average processing times for applications. Some, such as those involving overseas criminal records checks, unavoidably take a considerable time. The SIA have a published target of processing 80 per cent. of all applications within six weeks, measured from the date that a properly completed application enters the processing system to the date that a licence is issued.
From April 2004 until August 2005 the SIA processed 62 per cent. within six weeks and 88 per cent. within nine weeks. Since September 2005, there has been a backlog of applications that have been waiting to enter the system. These have added an additional time of between two and four weeks to the process, so it is now taking up to 10 weeks to process most applications.
(2) for what reasons the Security Industry Authority has suspended the facility for making online applications for door supervisors’ licences.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has a number of methods of ordering application forms. Application forms are available from the SIA call centre, the bulk applications department (which was set up in 2005 to enable companies to order volumes of application forms), and via the SIA website. Due to a high volume of requests, most of which were duplicate requests, the website ordering system was temporarily suspended for one month from 24 May to 27 June. The SIA deals with all licences with the same level of urgency. Currently, the SIA have no plans to implement an applicant fast-tracking system.
Sentencing Bodies (Appointments)
Under section 167 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, as amended by Schedule, Part 1, paragraph 357 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the Lord Chief Justice appoints the seven judicial members of the Sentencing Guidelines Council. The four non-judicial members of the Council are appointed by the Home Secretary after consultation with the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. A person is eligible to be appointed as a judicial member if he is: a Lord Justice of Appeal; a judge of the High Court; a circuit judge; a district judge (magistrates courts); or a lay justice. The judicial members must include a circuit judge, a district judge and a lay judge. A non-judicial member is eligible if he has experience in one of more of the following areas: policing, criminal prosecution, criminal defence, and the promotion of the welfare of victims of crime.
The Lord Chief Justice nominated the President of the Queen's Bench Division, the Vice President of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, the Chair of the Criminal Committee of the Judicial Studies Board, and the Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate) to be members of the Council and these appointments were agreed. It was also agreed that the Director of Public Prosecutions would be the member with criminal prosecution experience. The two circuit judges, the lay magistrate and the other non-judicial members were appointed after open competition following advertisements in the national media, and through targeted advertisements in professional publications and websites, including those aimed at BME communities. All appointments were made in accordance with the rules of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and an independent member sat on the interview panels.
Members of the Sentencing Advisory Panel are appointed by the Lord Chancellor following consultation with the Home Secretary and the Lord Chief Justice. Panel members are appointed following open competition and are drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds both from within and outside the criminal justice system. Panel members serve in a personal capacity, bringing the knowledge and experience they have gained in their professional and voluntary roles to bear on the issues under discussion. As with the appointed members of the Council, advertisements are widely placed and the recruitment process followed the OCPA procedures with an independent member sitting on the interview panels.
UK Presidency (EU)
Our JHA priorities for the UK's Presidency of the European Union were included in the White Paper on the Prospects for the European Union published on 30 June 2005. We also informed Parliament of our priorities during the course of the UK Presidency, in particular in relation to the JHA Councils on 13 July, 13-14 October and 1-2 December and the JHA Informal on 7-9 September.
UK Presidency (G8)
Many of the priorities for the UK Presidency of the G8 related to the Secure and Facilitated Travel Initiative (SAFTI) a series of measures designed to improve travel security. By the end of our presidency, 20 SAFTI projects had been completed with four carrying into the Russian presidency. We also completed the International Child Sexual Exploitation Database Implementation Study, agreed a document setting out best practice in dealing with internet content, best practice for law enforcement and network providers on preventing and investigating various forms of electronic attack and organised a workshop in Nigeria dealing with the tracing and return of assets.
We also introduced a number of new initiatives, on the unlawful international supply of firearms for criminal use and in developing mechanisms to enable countries to share DNA data for intelligence purposes in the investigation of crime. At the ministerial meeting held in Sheffield in 2005 Ministers a greed to further work on biometrics, advanced passenger information, human trafficking, drug production in Afghanistan, internet crime and measures to tackle crime and corruption in Africa.
Violent Crime
Yeovil comes within the South Somerset Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) area. Partnerships were set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and data are only available from 1999-2000. There were 3,058 violent crimes recorded by the police in the South Somerset CDRP in 2004-05.
The information requested is given in the tables.
Since 1997, there have been two major changes to the way in which crime is recorded. The effect of the change in counting rules in 1998 was to artificially increase recorded violent crime nationally by more than 80 per cent. while it is estimated that the effect of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in April 2002 caused a further 20 per cent. increase in recorded violent crime in its first year.
Number of offences 1997 7,758
Number of offences 1998-99 10,947 1999-2000 10,752 2000-01 10,966 2001-02 11,849 Notes: 1. The coverage was extended and counting rules revised from 1998-99. Figures from that date are not directly comparable with those for 1997. 2. The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. These figures are not directly comparable with those for later years.
Number of offences 2002-03 19,360 2003-04 28,482 2004-05 26,855 Note: The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. These figures are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
Young Offenders
Prisoners and young offenders have a statutory entitlement to domestic or social visits. In addition, many establishments offer extended or family visits. The frequency of these additional visits remains a matter for each establishment, taking account of resources and regime. Statistics on the number of visitors are not routinely collated so there is no recent evidence as to the overall level of take up. However, in order to support and encourage more visitors, the Assisted Prisons Visits Scheme, which provides financial assistance for visitors on a low income, was extended in 2004. Good Practice Guidelines have also recently been issued to enable prisons and YOIs to examine and improve the effectiveness of their visits arrangements.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: Staff to trainee ratios are difficult to calculate, for a variety of reasons. For example, some staff spend almost all their time dealing with trainees; others, for example support staff, will have less frequent contact. The following figures are indicative:
Secure children's homes: the number of staff supervising trainees varies between one member of staff to two children and six staff to eight children.
Secure training centres: the number of staff supervising trainees ranges between two staff to five to seven trainees and three staff to eight trainees. Other staff at the centre include custody officers to supervise visits, admissions and movements in the centre.
Young offender institutions: no simple ratio is available. On each wing, there are between 40 and 60 trainees, under the supervision of between three and six staff. In addition, there are teachers, learning support assistants and support staff.
[holding answer 26 June 2006]: The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales commissions and purchases places in the secure estate for children and young people. It estimates the annual cost per place in 2005-06 as follows:
£ Secure training centre 1171,500 Young offender institution 50,500 Secure children's home 194,800 1 Includes value added tax.
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 5 July 2006
Transport
Airport Security
The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with BAA on the specific issues raised, although officials in the Department work closely with BAA on a range of issues, including security measures.
China
[holding answer 29 June 2006]: The current development phase is a joint project between the Directorate General for Transport and Energy in the European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA). The Supervisory Board of the Galileo Joint Undertaking is established to ensure an adequate information flow and political control by member states of the implementation of the development phase.
The Government are aware of the sensitive nature of some parts of Galileo. We continue to monitor the project closely. We have been careful to ensure that any agreements with partners in the programme that are not member states of the EU or ESA specifically exclude them from participation in all sensitive aspects.
Individual member states of the ESA and EU participating in Galileo are responsible, under their own national and/or any international export control regimes—such as MCTR (Missile Technology Control Regime) and Wassenaar—of which they are signatories, for the control of strategic exports and should apply these rules to Galileo as required. For example, all EU countries follow the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports which prohibits export of military technology, including dual use technologies where a military end use is known or suspected, to non-EU states, including China, where this is inappropriate. An assessment of the risk of diversion to an undesirable end user or end use is a key criterion under the code. The UK Government assess Galileo technology proposed for transfer to non-EU states against these criteria.
Commission for Integrated Transport
The principal spend of the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) is on the research programme which underpins its policy advice. The costs of this for the last four years are set out in the following table, together with the Commission’s other running costs. Both figures also cover the research and running costs of the Motorists Forum, established by CfIT in January 2000, at Ministers’ request.
Programme costs Running costs (pay and non-pay) 2002-03 1,378,818 328,950 2003-04 604,124 310,211 2004-05 421,971 279,315 2005-06 492,869 250,970
Cyclist Numbers
Transport for London (TfL) estimate that 216,000 work-related cycling trips are made each day. However, TfL is in the process of developing a project to track businesses with travel plans called iTRACE, which in future will provide much more accurate information on the issue of cycling to work. This is expected to be operational by 2008.
Departmental Publications
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House on 3 July 2006, Official Report, column 729W.
The Department for Transport has not produced any draft Bills since October 2005.
Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be indicated in the Queen’s Speech.
Departmental Travel
All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
Judicial Review
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
M11
The use of a tolled lane on the M11 was considered and discussed with BAA Plc as part of the modelling of surface access infrastructure supporting Stansted's second runway. This idea was dismissed at an early stage. No further discussions on this issue have taken place.
Olympics
Lucy Chadwick, Director of Regional and Local Transport Delivery Directorate, leads on Olympic-related issues within the Department for Transport and sits on the Inter-Departmental Steering Group.
Ports
This review was carried out over two years using in-house resources. Exact figures are unavailable, however it is estimated to have cost in the region of £70,000. This includes publication costs. The manpower element of this, £56,332, covers all municipal ports issues not just the review.
The total expenditure to date on the ports policy review has been £200,000 on two consultants' studies contributing to the evidence base; £203,000 internal staff costs and £19,000 launch costs. A further £150,000 has been budgeted for in-house costs for the completion of the exercise, with £90,000 provision for external costs.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is not able to supply detailed statistics on the exact number of checks carried out in or around individual ports. The majority of enforcement is carried out by intercepting traffic on arterial roads leading to or from a port.
Details of the number of vehicle checks carried out in 2004-05 and the number of vehicles prohibited is published in VOSA’s Effectiveness Report which is available in the Libraries of the House. The 2005-06 report is to be published shortly.
Post Office Contracts
Vehicle re-licensing (car tax renewal) and a statutory off-road notification (SORN) service is provided over the counter in approximately 4,600 motor vehicle licensing (MVL) branches. Postal applications are handled in 120 of these offices.
A photo card driving licence premium service, checking application forms and supporting identity documents, is provided in approximately 740 branches.
A range of vehicle and driving licence forms, leaflets and booklets are held in all 14,000 branches.
Over the last five years Post Office Ltd./DVLA has introduced a new electronic system for both vehicle re-licensing and making a statutory off-road notification (SORN) at MVL Post Office® branches through reading barcodes on application forms/registration certificates.
Since August 2004, when re-licensing their vehicle or making a statutory off-road notification (SORN), customers have been able to notify a change of tax class into the disabled tax class at MVL Post Office® branches.
The vehicles’ re-licensing contract started in April 2002 and terminates on 31 March 2007.
The premium service contract started in November 2002 and terminates on 31 March 2007.
Negotiations are under way with Post Office Ltd. to continue both services from April 2007 onwards.
Railways
Statistics on rail travel in and between regions are published in National Rail Trends Yearbook editions, which are available in the House Library.
Data from the London Underground Rolling Origin-Destination Survey show that 99.2 per cent. of London underground journeys are made within London.
Information on other city underground systems are published in the Public Transport Statistics Bulletin, which is available in the House Library.
The answer includes stations that have been re-opened with new buildings.
Silverlink Trains network: Shepherds Bush and Imperial Wharf are under construction.
West Brompton had two new platforms opened in 1999.
C2C network: Chafford Hundred (1995) and West Ham (1999)
One network, Braintree Freeport (1999)
South West Trains network: Chandlers Ford (2003)
The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 requires that all trains are subject to rail vehicle accessibility regulations by no later than 1 January 2020. We are currently developing the necessary regulations and will be consulting on these in due course.
The Secretary of State will, nevertheless, still have the power to grant exemptions from the regulations, even if these run past the “end date”. Parliament accepted the necessity of this during the passage of the Bill for services such as heritage and tourist railways and tramways, which might not be able to meet accessibility requirements in full due to engineering and other constraints.
Road Pricing
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 May 2006, Official Report, column 1954W.
Sustainable Transport Towns
Details of the Sustainable Travel Towns Initiative, including the three successful towns, can be found on the Department’s website at www.dft.gov.uk.
Thames Gateway
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of Tuesday 4 July 2006, Official Report, column 929W to the hon. Member for North Cornwall.
Transport Links (Yorkshire)
The Department has made substantial investment in road transport related schemes in Yorkshire during the first local transport plan period (2001-06) and will sustain this investment throughout the second period, which runs until 2011. This includes significant investment by the Highways Agency on the motorway and trunk road network in the Yorkshire and Humber region over the last five years. This high level of investment is set to continue with, for example, the innovative £1.29 billion programme announced last year to reduce congestion on strategic routes in South and West Yorkshire.
To enable better forward planning, the Government in July last year announced three year regional funding allocations to 2007-08 and planning assumptions for 2008-09 to 2015-16, amounting to over £1 billion for the Yorkshire and Humber region. These cover major (greater than £5 million) local transport plan schemes and major Highways Agency schemes other than on those on roads of the greatest strategic national and international importance.
On rail investment, new services have been introduced between Sheffield and Leeds, and new rolling stock provided to increase capacity on routes to Leeds and Bradford. In addition, the Secretary of State, through the rail re-franchising programme, has sought and will continue to seek improvements to rail links between the towns and cities of Yorkshire.
Wales
Severn Estuary Barrage
Antisocial Behaviour
Through measures such as those included in the Respect Action Plan, we are building on the progress we have already made against antisocial behaviour and are now working to tackle its root causes.
Agency Staff
The average hourly rates paid to employment agencies by the Wales Office in 2005-06 are as follows:
Per hour Adecco 14.19 Kelly 11.28 Acorn 9.76
Correspondence
We do not record the staff time taken in replying to letters. To answer the earlier question, we would have needed to monitor staff time taken for a big enough sample of letters from hon. Members and members of the public over a long enough period to give reasonably representative results. We estimated that the total cost of the exercise would exceed three days’ work and cost more than £600.
Departmental Travel
All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases Certified Emissions Reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
Draft Legislation
The Department always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process; both informal and formal. The Wales Office was an early adopter of pre-legislative scrutiny and the national health service (Wales) Bill was scrutinised during the 2001-02 session. Since then, a further three Bills introduced by my Department were published in draft for consultation: the Public Audit (Wales) Bill; the Transport (Wales) Bill; and, the Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill. A public consultation has always been conducted in parallel with the pre-legislative scrutiny process. My Department has also introduced two further Bills. My Department had conducted a public consultation jointly with the Welsh Assembly on the principles underlying the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Bill, and as there was general support for the proposals, further scrutiny was not considered necessary, and would only have further delayed the legislation. The Government of Wales Bill, which is currently before the House, was introduced without pre-legislative scrutiny, because the proposals need to be implemented for the May 2007 Assembly elections. Extensive consultation was however undertaken on the White Paper, which was published well in advance of this Bill being introduced. All the Department's formal consultations also abide by the Code of Conduct on Consultation.
Energy Review
The energy review will provide a framework for the energy policies of HMG and the Assembly Government to meet the four goals set out by the 2003 Energy White Paper: To put ourselves on a path to cut the UK’s CO2 emissions by some 60 per cent. by about 2050, with real progress by 2020; to maintain the reliability of energy supplies; to promote competitive markets in the UK and beyond, helping to raise the rate of sustainable economic growth and to improve our productivity; and to ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated.
Olympics
The information requested is as follows.
(a) Responsibility for Olympics-related activity in the Wales Office rests within the local government, culture and sport team.
(b) The majority of functions concerned with the Olympic and Paralympic Games are devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. The Assembly Government therefore represents Wales on the Inter-Departmental Steering Group. I do, however discuss Olympic issues with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport on a regular basis, and the Wales Office is represented on the Wales Olympic Steering Group, established by the Assembly Government.
Police Force Restructuring
I have had, and will continue to hold, regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and key stakeholders on this important issue.
International Development
Advertising Campaigns
DFID does not hold a separate advertising budget. The majority of advertising spend relates to recruitment advertising in newspapers and journals. For the last two calendar years the costs have been as follows:
£ 2004 594,769 2005 307,359
Since July 2004, DFID has run the following promotional campaigns:
Trade Matters Campaign
To raise awareness of the role of trade in fighting world poverty and promote availability of a new free publication—Trade Matters. Promotional inserts were placed in the following publications:
£ December 2005 Independent and New Statesman 6,765 Big Issue North 3,290 March 2006 Sunday Herald 2,068 The Grocer 3,713 May 2006 SAGA Magazine 10,340 Total 26,176
Developments Magazine Campaign
To increase numbers of subscribers to the Department’s free magazine—Developments. Promotional inserts were placed in the following publications:
£ April 2006 Greenbelt mailing 1,233 Big Issue 5,463 Asian Times 1,110 Christianity Magazine 888 Church Times 1,941 Catholic Herald 1,242 July 2006 Birmingham Post 1,057 Total 12,934
Developments Magazine and Rough Guide Campaign
£ October 2005 Black History Month magazine 3,642
Draft Legislation
DFID does not regularly draw up legislation, and has not done so since the International Development Act (2002), the main legislation governing its activities. If it were to be involved in future legislation, it would consult widely, both formally—in line with the Code of Conduct on Consultation—and informally.
EU Water Projects
The EU Water Initiative (EUWI) is primarily a political rather than a financial initiative with five objectives, as follows:
Reinforce political commitment to action;
Make water governance effective;
Improve water management through multi-stakeholder dialogue and co-ordination;
Support regional co-operation, and
Identify additional financial resources and mechanisms.
The EU Water Fund, formally known as the EU water facility (EUWF), was established, in part, as a response to the fifth objective of the EUWI; namely to identify additional financial resources and mechanisms, but there is no formal link between the two. In contrast to the EUWI, the EUWF is a funding mechanism. The Water Facility has made €500 million available for water and sanitation and aims to leverage additional funds from other sources.
Progress to date has been slow, mainly because of lengthy procurement procedures, but approximately €230 million is currently being committed to co-fund 97 projects, valued overall at €412 million. An initial analysis of these selected proposals by the EUWF has found that by 2010 approximately 10 million people will benefit from access to drinking water and approximately 5 million people will benefit from access to basic sanitation. A second call for proposals has been launched this year and the full €500 million of the water facility will be committed by 2007.
Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
The UK strongly supports the Global Fund and wants it to be effective in the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria. The Global Fund recently revised its resource needs to an estimated US$5.5 billion for 2006 and 2007. There is a current funding gap of US$2.1 billion for 2006 and 2007. Of this, US$1 billion is needed this year to fund a new round of grants which was launched by the board in April. The Mid-Term Review of the Global Fund (4-5 July 2006) will review the fund’s performance and mobilise extra resources for 2006-07 to fill the funding gap. The UK has committed £359 million to the Global Fund (2002-08). We have doubled our pledge for 2006 and 2007 to £100 million in each of those years. This means that our overall share of support for the Global Fund at around 5 per cent. is consistent with our support over the 2001-05 period. The UK is meeting its fair share—other donors need to do the same.
The Global Fund is only one part of our contribution to tackling AIDS, TB and malaria. The UK is committed to spend at least £1.5 billion on the global AIDS response over three years (2006-08), including our support to the Global Fund. We also provide support to the Roll Back Malaria (£7 million pledged to 2008) and Stop TB initiatives (over £49 million pledged from 1999 to 2007), as well as direct support to countries to help tackle diseases of poverty.
The UK will continue to encourage other donors including the private sector to support the Global Fund. The Prime Minister has also recently made clear that we are committed to working with developing countries, NGOs and other partners to encourage the development of long-term—10 year—health plans and to help ensure that predictable support is available from donors to support them. This will be key in helping countries strengthen their health systems and to be able to more effectively combat AIDS, TB and malaria.
Health Projects
[holding answer 3 July 2006]: DFID does not track long-term health sector spending because we provide pooled financial support for basic health services. But, as the Prime Minister recently made clear, we are committed to making good on our G8 promises, and a key part of this is to support developing countries with long-term, sustainable financing for health. We are currently working with developing countries, NGOs and other partners to encourage development of long-term—10 year—health plans and to ensure that predictable support is available from donors for them. This long-term support will provide poor countries with the security to make long-term investments and meet the costs of salaries, drugs, infrastructure and training. We have also increased our funding to multilateral organisations supporting countries to strengthen their health services, including to the Global Fund and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). We are spearheading innovative efforts to secure significant additional resources for essential health care through the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, with the first bond issue due in the coming months.
Israel
DFID is in close contact with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) which is monitoring the humanitarian situation in Gaza. All crossing points into Gaza have been closed for goods since 25 June, with the exception of Karni which was open for one day on 2 July. This enabled some humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza. Karni was closed again on 3 July.
Only diplomats are freely able to enter Gaza. All international staff of humanitarian organisations not holding diplomatic passports, such as those working for non-governmental organisations, require prior co-ordination with the Israeli authorities. No Palestinian staff of humanitarian organisations are able to enter Gaza.
DFID is helping UNOCHA by providing a movement and access specialist to help the UN coordinate with the Israeli authorities. Current information on humanitarian access to the West Bank and Gaza is available at http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/.
The main impact of recent military action has been to the loss of electrical power following damage to Gaza's only power plant. The closure of the Nahal Oz oil pipeline from 26 June to 2 July and greater difficulty in movement due to the destruction of three bridges providing north-south access have also had an effect. Hospitals in Gaza are maintaining services by using back-up generators, although there are reports that supplies of some essential drugs and supplies are nearly finished. It is difficult for anyone from the south to access to the main referral hospital in Gaza city in the north.
The Gaza economy has been severely constrained since March, when Hamas assumed power. Since then, the access point for exports from Gaza has been closed, trade with Israel has all but stopped and a very limited number of public sector salaries have been paid. Most of the water supply to Gaza is pumped from wells. Supplies are being continued by connecting pumps to generators, but there is concern that fuel for these generators is dependent on the Nahal Oz pipeline remaining open.
Palestinian schools are currently on summer break and are scheduled to resume in September. There are as yet no reports that Israeli military activity has caused any damage to education institutions.
Opium Poppy Cultivation
The UK Government do not maintain any bilateral programme to reduce illicit opium poppy cultivation in Laos, Thailand or Vietnam and have not made any assessment of the effectiveness of programmes undertaken by others in those countries.
House of Commons Commission
Child Care
The House provides child care vouchers to the value of £8 per child per day. The Commission favours the child care voucher scheme because of its flexibility and availability to staff wherever they are based. Vouchers are available for children up to and including age 11. The vouchers can be used to pay registered child minders, nurseries, playgroups, crèches, nannies, holiday play schemes for school age children, and close relatives who care for children, thus allowing staff a range of choices when making their child care arrangements. Information can be found on the parliamentary intranet. The scheme is currently under review to ensure the House continues to offer the most appropriate arrangements for the majority of staff.
Delegations
The Overseas Office (European Section) in the Clerk's Department comprises five staff, two or three of whom accompany the UK delegations of hon. Members and Peers to each plenary session of the inter-parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, NATO, OSCE and the Western European Union. One or two European Section staff accompany hon. Members and Peers to some of the assemblies' committee meetings.
Over the period from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2006, eight different House staff were involved in undertaking these duties.
Details of the numbers of staff accompanying Select Committees on visits abroad are given in the annual sessional return published by TSO which is available online, in the Vote Office and in the Library.
The British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the UK Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the British-American Parliamentary Group and the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body are funded directly by the Government; the staff who accompany delegations of hon. Members and Peers belonging to those organisations are not employed by the House of Commons Commission.
Senior Staff
As at 28 June 2006, 28.9 per cent. of staff in the Senior Commons Structure pay bands were women. This compares with some 48 per cent. for the House service overall. The proportion of women at senior levels is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
The House's diversity forum action plan, available on the parliamentary intranet, has a wide range of actions aimed at all aspects of the diversity agenda. Representation of under-represented groups has improved in recent years as a result of measures to remove potential bias from recruitment and internal career progression arrangements, but the effects will inevitably take some time to feed through fully to senior levels.
September Sittings
The overall daily resource cost of running the House administration in 2003-04 and 2004-05 was £487,000 and £520,000 respectively. The difference in cost between sitting and non-sitting days is small, as the major costs of accommodation and staffing are not appreciably affected. Major works and other contracts were negotiated on the basis of the revised sitting arrangements in both September 2003 and 2004. It is therefore impossible to determine with any accuracy what the actual costs of alternative contracts might have been, but it is estimated that around £90,000 of additional works expenditure was incurred directly by the House sitting in each September period.
Staff Travel Allowances
Senior House staff (in common with all staff) on official duty are entitled to use the late night transport service in the event of a late night sitting. A late night transport service is provided for staff on official duty if:
the House rises between 11 pm (or if the motion for the Adjournment is moved at or after 10.30 pm) and 9 am the next morning; or
a Committee rises between 11 pm and 9 am the next morning.
If there is a major disruption to public transport, the late night transport service is provided from 10 pm irrespective of what time the House rises. The House meets the cost of journeys of 25 miles or less. Staff wishing to travel outside this radius are advised (at the time of booking) to enter into a private arrangement with the driver and pay him/her the additional cost of the journey. Where practicable, taxis are shared between a number of staff.
Staffing Levels
The last significant review of staff numbers was a review of the needs of the Committee Office in 2003, conducted jointly by the House’s Internal Review Service (IRS) and the National Audit Office. More generally, staffing levels are controlled by a budgetary mechanism rather than by limits on staff numbers. The IRS has recently completed the first stage of a review of staff grading. Subject to the views of the Administration Estimate Audit Committee, the second phase will be conducted later in the year.
Tours
Details of the use made by individual hon. Members of House facilities and services are regarded as personal data, and not appropriate for publication.
Communities and Local Government
Local Authority Constitutions
There is no requirement for local authorities to submit revised constitutions to the Department for evaluation.
Local authorities are required to submit proposals to the Department for Communities and Local Government in respect of a change from one constitutional model to another. There is no such requirement in respect of revisions to the same constitution. Local authorities will keep their constitutions under review and make amendments as necessary, and it is for the local authorities themselves to ensure that their constitutional arrangements are appropriate and compliant with legislation. The Department has no statutory role in evaluating local authority constitutions.
Outsourcing
Local authorities are responsible for taking their own procurement decisions subject to the requirements of best value legislation and to the EU/UK regulatory framework. This includes any decision to outsource administrative functions overseas. Any specific complaint that best value is not being met in a particular set of circumstances would need to be addressed in the first instance to an authority’s external auditor.
Oversight and Scrutiny Committees
The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold the information requested.
Parliamentary Papers
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 3 July 2006, Official Report, column 729W by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.
Renewable Energy
This information is not held centrally although we understand that a number of local authorities have installed micro-renewables to supply energy for their own use and also pursue initiatives to purchase renewable electricity and fuel.
As the 2006 Climate Change Programme made clear, local authorities have a key role in achieving the UK’s goals on climate change and sustainable energy. Government strongly support innovative local action in this area.
Social Exclusion
The Department for Communities and Local Government leads on policy and delivery in addressing social exclusion and deprivation in deprived areas. The Department has responsibility for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund which aims to narrow the gap between the 86 most deprived local authority areas and others. It has five key ‘floor targets’, which are: education, employment, crime, health and housing and physical environment.
The new Social Exclusion Taskforce, based in the Cabinet office and formed from some previous Social Exclusion Unit staff, is currently undertaking work on an action plan looking at key priorities for the Prime Minister such as looked-after children, mental health, teenage pregnancy and tomorrow’s problem families.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster chairs the new Social Exclusion Cabinet Committee on which the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government sits as a key member, reflecting the strong synergies between the work of the Cabinet Office and that of the DCLG.
Home Department
Correspondence
[holding answer 3 July 2006]: This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Crime Reporting
The national police portal (www.police.uk) provides the facility for members of the public to report ‘non-emergency’ crime and hate crime/incidents online. Event specific forms are available that seek information from the public. The information is then sent to the force in whose area the alleged crime is committed.
Guantanamo Bay
Hon. Members can either write to the relevant Minister to request material, or make a request to the relevant public body under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Foreign Secretary leads on most matters concerning prisoners in Guantanamo Bay.
Access to classified material may be refused in the interests of safeguarding national security
Labour Party Conference
[holding answer 12 June 2006]: The chief officer is responsible for determining staffing requirements and deploying the resources available in accordance with day to day operational demands, within the overall policy and budget set by each police authority.
Life Sentences
Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out as follows:
Number Automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and Possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent) of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given as follows:
Year of release Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified part—period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by parole board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months (inclusive) 2 Over 18 months—up to two years (inclusive) 9 Over two years—up to two years six months (inclusive) 9 Over two years six months—up to three years (inclusive) 7 Over three years—up to three years six months (inclusive) 9 Over three years six months—up to four years (inclusive) 10 Over four years—up to four years six months (inclusive) 5 Over four years six months—up to five years (inclusive) 0 Over five years—up to five years six months 0 Over five years six months—up to six years (inclusive) 0 Over six years 0
[holding answer 19 June 2006]: Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out as follows:
Number Number of automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent)of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given as follows:
Year of release Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified part—period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by Parole Board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months (inclusive) 2 Over 18 months—up to two years (inclusive) 9 Over two years—up to two years six months (inclusive) 9 Over two years six months—up to three years (inclusive) 7 Over three years—up to three years six months (inclusive) 9 over three years six months—up to four years (inclusive) 10 over four years—up to four years six months (inclusive) 5 Over four years six months—up to five years (inclusive) 0 Over five years—up to five years six months 0 Over five years six months up to six years (inclusive) 0 Over six years 0
[holding answer 20 June 2006]: Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, in the following table.
Number Automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent) of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence.
Information on releases per year is given in the following table.
Year of release Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the “specified part”. Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the table below. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified part - period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by parole board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months 2 Over 18 months—up to two years 9 Over two years—up to two years six months 9 Over two years six months—up to three years 7 Over three years—up to three years six months 9 Over three years six months—up to four years 10 Over four years—up to four years six months 5 Over four years six months—up to five years — Over five years—up to five years six months — Over five years six months—up to six years — Over six years — 1 Inclusive
Information detailing the offences the 53 life sentenced prisoners were convicted of, as recorded in paper files for the individuals concerned, is set out in the table:
Number Number of automatic and discretionary life sentences Automatic 49 Discretionary 4 Total 53 Offence for which automatic life sentence was imposed (index offence) Manslaughter 7 GBH1 31 Possession of firearm2 2 Robbery and Possession of firearm 9 Total 49 Offence distribution for discretionary life sentences False imprisonment 1 Manslaughter 1 GBH1 2 Total 4 1 Offences under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (wounding, or causing grievous bodily harm, with intent). 2 Offences under section 16 (possession of a firearm with intent to injure), section 17 (use of a firearm to resist arrest) or section 18 (carrying a firearm with intent)of the Firearms Act 1968.
The vast majority of the cases are automatic life sentences under the previous sentencing regime set out in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. This system meant that repeat offenders convicted of a second serious violent or sexual offence, were automatically sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial judge unless there were exceptional circumstances.
This framework has since been replaced with Indeterminate Public Protection sentences provided for in the Criminal Justice Act 2003 for offenders assessed as dangerous. These new sentences apply to a wider range of offences than those set out in the 1997 Act, and can be imposed for a first offence. Information on releases per year is given in the table:
Number 2001 1 2002 2 2003 6 2004 18 2005 18 2006 8
The fixing of a “minimum term” arises only in the case of an offender sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for murder. None of those released since 2000 and referred to in the previous answer were so sentenced.
The minimum period of imprisonment for all non-mandatory life sentences is known as the "specified part". Details of the specified parts fixed by the trial judge in the cases in question are set out in the following table. At the end of the specified part the offender will be eligible to be considered for release by the parole board. The offender will only be released if the parole board consider it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the prisoner should be confined.
Length of specified par— period to be served before eligible for consideration of release by Parole Board Number of offenders since 2000 receiving this period of specified part One year or under 2 Over one year—up to 18 months (inclusive) 2 Over 18 months—up to two years (inclusive) 9 Over two years—up to two years six months (inclusive) 9 Over two years six months—up to three years (inclusive) 7 Over three years—up to three years six months (inclusive) 9 Over three years six months—up to four years (inclusive) 10 Over four years—up to four years six months (inclusive) 5 Over four years six months—up to five years (inclusive) 0 Over five years—up to five years six months 0 Over five years six months up to six years (inclusive) 0 Over six years 0
Of the 23 life licensees referred to in the previous answer to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), 21 had been convicted of murder, one of manslaughter and one of robbery and possession of a firearm. Four of the 23 offenders unlawfully at large at the beginning of June when the information was collated are now back in custody. Police continue to pursue vigorously all information and lines of enquiry in order to find these offenders and effect a swift return to custody. Details of the time that the original 23 licensees have been out of contact with the probation services are set out in the following table:
Time Number of offenders 6 months or under 5 Over 6 months—up to 12 months1 5 Over 12 months—up to 2 years1 3 Over 2 years—up to 4 years1 3 Over 4 years—up to 6 years1 4 Over 6 years—up to 8 years1 1 Over 8 years—up to 10 years1 1 Over 10 years 1 Total 23 1 Inclusive
Police
This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
[holding answer 3 July 2006]: This information is not held by the Home Office. The table sets out the number of police community support officers in each London borough operational command unit on 31 March 2006 and is provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
Operational Command Unit Numbers at 31 March 2006 Barking & Dagenham 42 Barnet 48 Bexley 53 Brent 27 Bromley 57 Camden 55 Croydon 58 Ealing 41 Enfield 50 Greenwich 53 Hackney 51 Hammersmith & Fulham 36 Haringey 39 Harrow 36 Havering 43 Hillingdon 57 Hounslow 41 Islington 40 Kensington & Chelsea 100 Kingston-upon-Thames 34 Lambeth 75 Lewisham 49 Merton 34 Newham 82 Redbridge 46 Richmond-upon-Thames 38 Southwark 46 Sutton 43 Tower Hamlets 79 Waltham Forest 44 Wandsworth 46 Westminster 272
Probation Service
This information for the years 1998 to (March) 2005 is published in annual Home Office Statistics. This can be found in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 17/05, Home Office Statistical Bulletin 15/04 and Probation Statistics England and Wales 1999.
School Safety
Measures on ensuring school security are a matter for the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. We work closely with the Department on a range of issues, including current legislative proposals contained in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill on powers for head teachers to search pupils for weapons.
Tasers
[holding answer 4 July 2006]: This review is a long-term study by the National Institute of Justice that will be conducted in stages. The Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) are in regular communication with them via the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations. No major issues have been identified by the study to date. Tasers in the UK are only made available to authorised firearms officers as a less lethal alternative for use in situations where a firearms authority has been granted in accordance with criteria laid down in the ACPO Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms.
Culture, Media and Sport
Agency Staff
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has used two employment agencies to provide temporary staff during 2005-06. The average hourly rate for staff provided by Josephine Sammons was £14.50 and the average hourly rate for Adecco was £13.96.
Dance Facilities
Central Government does not provide direct funding for local community dance facilities. However, funding can be made available through local government programmes and through Arts Council England revenue funding for arts organisations. Funding for dance for 2006-07 is £34 million rising to £35 million for 2007-08.
Since 1994 the Arts Council has also invested £126.4 million into establishing a national infrastructure of dedicated dance venues across the country, including Yorkshire Dance in Leeds, the Laban Centre in London and Dance City in Newcastle.
Departmental Travel
All central Government ministerial and official air travel is being offset from 1 April 2006. DCMS's aviation emissions will be calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset.
Draft Legislation
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport always seeks a full range of views when drawing up and framing legislation. Consultation is a key part of the policy-making process, both informal and formal. The Department holds regular meetings with representatives of the principal stakeholder groups for our policy areas and with relevant experts. Organisations and individuals can also contribute to the Department's formal consultation which abides by the Code of Conduct on Consultation. Known stakeholders are alerted to the fact that a formal consultation is taking place. As required by the code, the DCMS then gives feedback on the responses received and on how the consultation process influenced the policy decision.
Gambling
I outlined the Government’s internal approach to regulating remote gambling when I met Jean-Francois Lamour, French Minister for Youth, Sport and Community Life recently in Paris.
The Secretary of State will shortly be writing to her counterparts inside and outside the European Union inviting them to participate in an international summit with a view to developing some international minimum standards for remote gambling regulation.
Ministers and officials have met several times with international financial institutions, including credit card providers, to discuss issues relating to internet gambling. We will build on, and develop, these relationships to inform our international summit on remote gambling to explore the development of some minimum international standards for remote gambling regulation.
We are also supportive of the efforts that the remote gambling industry is making to engage the banking sector.
The Government do not hold this information centrally.
Judicial Review
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Library Facilities
Responsibility for the provision of day to day library services lies with the 149 library authorities in England. Emphasis may differ slightly from authority to authority but older people benefit from library services which are available to all library users. Services include silver surfer sessions, help with charges such as reservations and fines, services to the housebound and homes for the elderly and provision of materials in accessible formats.
People’s Network services funded through Framework for the Future strategy programme are of particular benefit including (i) ‘Enquire’ service, giving round the clock real-time access to advice from librarians and (ii) ‘Read’ service, an on-line tool for finding interesting books for individual readers. Both these services particularly benefit people who find difficulty in visiting their library.
National Lottery
The National Lottery Commission (NLC) began preparations for the third national lottery operating licence competition in June 2004 with an extensive period of consultation and analysis. The NLC published its statement of main principles in November 2005 before publishing a draft invitation to apply in April 2006 and the final invitation to apply on 29 June. The NLC has asked for bids to be submitted by 15 December 2006 and aims to announce the preferred bidder in mid-May 2007 and finalise the draft third licence with the next operator by July 2007, giving ample time for transition before that licence commences on 1 February 2009. I am confident that the NLC has done everything possible to provide a fair, open and transparent process to deliver a vigorous, well-run competition.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Lothian (Anne Moffat) on 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 128W.
Post Office
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has no contracts with the Post Office.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has over 60 sponsored bodies/Executive agencies and the figures for them could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
DCMS does not have any of its services provided through the Post Office network.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the only DCMS sponsored body that has used the services of the Post Office network in the last five years. It provides services for BBC TV Licensing including budget card payments and refunds from all of its available branches. However, I am unable to provide the total number of transactions because the information relating to television licence fees is not collected centrally by post offices.
Tennis
Significant levels of funding are being provided to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to support grass roots tennis, increase participation and support talented young athletes. Sport England is providing £8 million in Exchequer funding over the period 2005-09 to support the strategic priorities contained in the LTA's Whole Sport plan. These priorities are to attract and retain juniors in the sport; to increase standards and develop better players through a strong network of tennis providers and to develop talented players and coaches to achieve sustained international success.
Over the same period the LTA has also been provided with £9.4 million in lottery funding through the Community Club Development programme to assist them to develop community sports clubs in order to increase participation and widen access.
The British Tennis Foundation has been awarded £455,000 in 2005-06 and £272,000 in 2006-07 to deliver the Government's PE, School Sport and Club Links programme. The programme aims to increase the take- up of sporting opportunities by five to 16-year-olds so that 85 per cent. of children by 2008 experience a minimum of two hours high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum each week.
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) has supported young tennis players to enable them to continue in their education while pursuing their sporting ambition. During 2004-05 and 2005-06, TASS supported 48 and 66 tennis players respectively.
In addition four tennis players have received support through the TASS 2012 programme. Over £310,000 has been provided by TASS to help athletes with their sporting costs and support services.
Defence
Afghanistan
[holding answer 3 July 2006]: When the UK forces’ current deployment to Afghanistan is complete, there will be around 5,000 troops deployed to Afghanistan, of which the majority will be under the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with a small number, including the training teams in Kabul and a number of staff officers remaining under Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) control. Our detachment of Harrier GR7s will be available to support both ISAF and OEF. These are separate and distinct missions, although troops deployed on OEF may also act in support of the NATO mission.
The deployment of HQ 16 Air Assault Brigade and associated force elements will end as planned in October.
An announcement on which units will replace them will be made in the House in due course.
[holding answer 4 July 2006]: The CH-47 Chinook helicopter reaches the scene of the incident within the time period determined by the medical planning guidelines for emergency responses of this type. I am withholding the exact details as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the security of the armed forces. However, a recently completed post-incident report found no fault with the CASEVAC service.
We constantly assess and evaluate the information and intelligence available to coalition and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Such material is evaluated and, where necessary, graded to ensure only reliable and credible material is used.
Aldermaston
The programme of extra investment at the Atomic Weapons Establishment embraces a range of activity necessary to sustain Trident for its remaining in-service life. Investment will be made in essential accommodation improvements, business communications, infrastructure, laser physics, hydrodynamics, materials science, high performance computing, uranium component manufacture, fissile and special materials handling, explosives handling, and assembly/disassembly. In the absence of the ability to undertake live nuclear testing in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty era, this investment is necessary to provide assurance that the existing Trident warhead stockpile remains safe and reliable.
Colchester Garrison
(2), how many bed spaces will be provided at the new Colchester Garrison; and whether he expects there to be a shortfall of bed spaces.
Pursuant to my answer of 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 20, on Colchester Garrison, I can confirm that 55 houses/flats are rented from the private sector to house the 56 soldiers living in Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA).
An additional 48 rented properties are no longer required and are in the process of being handed back to the private sector.
We can confirm that we do not anticipate a shortfall in bed spaces at the new Colchester Garrison based on the current endorsed requirement. The total number of bed spaces is 2,232 and not 2,231 as I said in my reply on 26 June 2006, Official Report, column 20.
Correspondence
The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The report for 2005 was published on 30 March 2006, Official Report, columns 76-78WS.
The information requested is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, however it is of note that the Department has received a total of in excess of 15,000 letters from both hon. Members and members of the public over the past 12 months.
Credit Unions
The Government welcome the contribution made by the various savings institutions in providing for greater choice and diversity in the financial services sector.
The Government’s guiding principles are to ensure impartiality and to help create a level playing field for all providers of financial services in order that their specific attributes can be properly harnessed.
It would therefore be inconsistent for a Government Department to favour credit unions above other financial institutions.
Employees are of course free to join in credit unions if they meet their relevant membership criteria and Departments may provide appropriate levels of support if employees wish to set up a credit union.
Deaths in Action
There has not been a change in the Ministry of Defence’s policy on the publication of the names of members of the armed forces killed in action.
Defence Analytical Services Agency
The anticipated publication date of Reserve Forces (TSP07) at 1 April 2006 is August 2006. Data will be made available on the Defence Analytical Services Agency website immediately upon publication. I will write to the hon. Member to confirm when this has been done.
Defence Training Review
The Defence Training Review Programme aims to provide the best possible living and learning environment for our people. This programme will make a positive contribution to improving the quality of training while reducing costs through the reduction of the Defence Estate. I am not in a position to make any detailed comment on the exact impact of the Defence Training Review as this will be entirely dependent on the solutions put forward by the Preferred Bidders. An announcement is not expected before the end of the year.
Departmental Premises (Security)
The Ministry of Defence has a rigorous basic check process, based on Government guidance given in the Cabinet Office's Manual of Protective Security. The basic check is applied to every employee of the MOD, and to contractors' employees working on MOD property. This employment/recruitment check aims to verify identity and nationality details, requires the applicant to declare unspent criminal convictions, and follows up the applicant's employment references.
We are aware that identity fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and we are taking additional measures to increase the likelihood of illegal immigrants being detected before they are employed. These include the introduction across Government of a more rigorous baseline personnel security standard, replacing the basic check.
Extraordinary Rendition
Officials consulted both operational reports and records from deployed headquarters in the relevant theatres.
Food Supply Contracts
Purple Foodservice Solutions presented the lowest risk and most technically compliant bid which, overall, offered the best value for money. The contract was run under Public Procurement Regulations, which take full account of UK and EU procurement legislation. The other companies that submitted bids were 3663, First for Foodservice, and Brakes Foodservice Solutions.
Gulf War Veterans
The Ministry of Defence is guided on its programme of research into Gulf veterans' illnesses by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and has undertaken studies into: the anthropology of “Gulf War Syndrome”, cancer, changing health, mortality/morbidity, neuromuscular symptoms, paraoxonase, reproductive health, testing for squalene in vaccines and vaccines interactions. I am aware of a concern on the part of the Gulf Veterans Association and National Gulf Veterans and Families Association that research should be undertaken on possible endocrine and/or genetics aspects of the illnesses experienced by veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf Conflict, as well as on the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate. We are awaiting detailed proposals which we will then refer to the MRC for their independent advice on the case for the Department commissioning such research, taking account of research already being undertaken elsewhere.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in another place on 22 June 2006, Official Report, column WA99 by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Procurement (Lord Drayson) to the noble Lord, Lord Morris of Manchester.
Infantry
The average costs of recruiting and training an infantryman during financial year 2004-05, the latest period for which figures are available, were as follows:
Financial year 2004-05 Costs (£) Recruitment/selection 7,000 Training phase 1 and 2—the Combat Infantryman Course 23,000 Notes: 1. Costs are calculated on an accrual basis and include non cash items such as depreciation and cost of capital. 2. Only costs that are within the Army Recruiting and Training Division spend are included. 3. There has been no apportionment of indirect headquarters costs to the training and recruiting outputs
Training of infantry recruits is conducted at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Catterick. Since 2000 the infantry have had a combined phase 1 and 2 course at Catterick, the Combat Infantry Course, which prepares the infantryman for his first appointment with the field Army.
Once an infantryman has completed his Combat Infantryman Course at ITC Catterick, he is ready to be deployed on operational service after the completion of the appropriate pre-deployment training, the cost of which is negligible.
All infantrymen will also undergo phase 3 training during their career, known as Career Training, which provides the soldier with professional development and career progression once he has joined his regiment; this training is also conducted through the ITC and costs on average £8,000.
Iraq
The United Kingdom's area of responsibility in multi-national division (south-east) remains relatively quiet compared to other parts of the country, accounting for around 4 per cent. of overall attacks in Iraq. There has been a rise in violence in Basra, and there have been a number of developments since March that seek to address this. The provincial council has re-engaged with UK forces, allowing the recommencement of the full programme of operational activity for our forces in MND(SE). Most recently, we have secured important undertakings from the Iraqi Government on delivering a new security plan for Basra.
There are three courses specialising in Iraqi language training available for troops prior to deployment to Iraq, each with a different proficiency level. The numbers undertaking this training over the last three years are shown in the following table.
Standard language profile level(SLP) Proficiency descriptor Description of competence 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 1 Survival(one soldier per sub-unit) Copes with routine, social and practical demands and the most limited work demands. Cannot write in the language 36 60 60 1 Basic patrol Arabic (junior commanders and soldiers) Copes with routine, social and practical demands and the most limited work demands. Cannot write in the language n/a 250 250 4 Operational Linguist Copes with routine social and practical demands using spoken and written skills. Copes with some of the more sophisticated and demanding situations encountered when listening to and reading in the language N/A 12 24
In addition to these courses Cascade Training takes place at unit level during pre-deployment training over anything up to six months. The training is undertaken by those who have completed the Basic Patrol Arabic Course augmented by specially appointed and trained Operational Unit Education Officers. Once deployed training is continued by the same staff augmented by the Theatre Education Centre. Every soldier is also issued with a language card which is taught during pre-deployment training and is practised regularly by all in theatre.
Joint Personnel Administration
Pay 2000 is the generic term used to describe the incremental pay system for armed forces personnel. It arose as a consequence of the recommendations made in the independent review conducted by Sir Michael Bett in 1995, and was introduced in April 2001 for regular personnel, and November 2002 for reservists.
Some 14,160 regular and reserve army personnel have been either under, or overpaid electronically at some time since, and as a result of the implementation of Pay 2000. The number of pay accounts in need of rectification was reduced to some 8,900 during 2004-05, and this figure has been reduced further to some 1,000 during 2006. I am confident that the remaining 1,000 pay accounts will be rectified prior to the roll-out of joint personnel administration to the army.
Arrangements ensure that any shortfalls are paid manually at unit level. The primary causes of the problem have been late changes in the interpretation of policy, computer programming difficulties and the ageing army computer systems.
The total amount of electronic underpayments could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Meteorological Office
[holding answer 2 May 2006]: The same meteorological information previously provided by the mountaincall and mountainfax commercial services is now provided through a public service available free of charge on the Met. Office website. The service is also available through the Met. Office customer centre.
Military Co-operation with France
[holding answer 4 July 2006]: At the recent UK-France summit on 9 June, the United Kingdom and France re-affirmed their shared commitment to act together against evolving threats and challenges to our security and defence and to that of our allies and partners. An important element of this is the long-standing military co-operation between our armed forces, who currently work together on operations and regular exercises, and in the fields of concepts, doctrine and training. This collaboration is undertaken both bilaterally and through multilateral organisations such as NATO and the EU.
Our armed forces co-operate on operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia. Other recent interaction includes:
Routine integration of Royal Navy and French Navy ships into respective Task Group deployments, most recently in the UK Naval Task Group Deployment AQUILA 2006 and the French Carrier Task Group
AGAPANTHE 06, which deployed to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Gulf regions.
British Army staff officers attached to the French Rapid Reaction Corps Headquarters in Lille where they contribute to French work on achieving NATO Response Force readiness.
The Royal Air Force and French Air Force combining to provide a Joint Force Air Component Headquarters, and substantial force elements, for NATO Response Forces 5 and 6.
Agreement to co-operate in establishing a network of Peace Support Training Centres in Africa.
This close and highly valued military relationship is fostered through regular dialogue at all levels from the Chief of the Defence Staff downwards and underpinned by bilateral agreements and letters of intent. There is also a network of exchange and liaison officers across all three services. The continuation of our excellent military relationship with France will remain important as we work together to tackle the challenges ahead.
Nuclear Deterrent
[holding answer 4 July 2006]: I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of issues.
Decisions on the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent will be taken this year. We expect to publish a White Paper once decisions have been taken and, as the Prime Minister made clear on 28 June 2006, Official Report, column 253, the means of consultation will be made clear when we publish the White Paper.
(2) what consideration Ministers have given to detailed policy on the future of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Work is under way by officials in a number of Departments to prepare for decisions on the future of the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent. Ministers have been briefed by officials on some of the relevant issues and have requested that further work be undertaken.
It remains the case that no decisions have yet been taken, either in principle or in detail although, as the Prime Minister said on 28 June 2006, Official Report, column 253 decisions will be taken this year.
I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues and other Ministers on a wide range of issues.
Search and Rescue Services
The timing for the competition for UK Helicopter Search and Rescue capability is set out in the Official Journal of the European Union Notice (No 2006/S 90-096731) of 12 May 2006. This advises that it is planned to complete the Competitive Dialogue process in mid 2008, at which time the final invitation to tender is planned to be issued. The final assessment of basing solutions and all other relevant matters will be completed after this, with announcements made when the decisions are mature.
Submarines
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 22 May 2006, Official Report, column 1262W to the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Mr. Penrose) in respect of operational submarines. Two types of submarines make up the Royal Navy Submarine Service. There are 10 Fleet Submarines, of which eight are operational. There are four Ballistic Missile Submarines, of which three are operational. The position remains unchanged.
Tetanus
(2) which naval and military units do not have their required stock of tetanus immunoglobulin.
The Ministry of Defence’s requirement for tetanus immunoglobulin is low. It is only used to treat patients with wounds who have not received the normal tetanus vaccine. Very few such cases arise in our armed forces since MOD aims to ensure that all its personnel have up-to-date tetanus vaccinations prior to deployment. The only people who would need it would therefore be any service personnel who missed their vaccination and any non-UK individuals who are treated in our medical facilities in theatre.
There is a temporary UK national shortage of tetanus immunoglobulin. We do not currently have any centrally held defence stocks in the UK. However, with the exception of designated field hospitals, units are not required to hold tetanus immunoglobulin, although some do at the discretion of individual medical officers. We are not aware of any stock shortfall of tetanus immunoglobulin in the designated field hospitals and we do not expect a shortfall to arise before supplies become available again.
Routine tetanus immunisation is given by the combined low dose diphtheria/tetanus/inactivated polio (Td/IPV) triple booster which is administered at trainee entrant establishments. Personnel who require a further booster dose because they have sustained an injury from which they could be at risk of an acute tetanus infection can also be given the Td/IPV triple booster. Supplies of the Td/IPV triple booster are not affected by the national shortage of immunoglobulin, and there are currently no known shortages in naval or military units.
In light of the national shortage, the MOD has repeated recent Department of Health guidance on tetanus immunoglobulin to defence medical personnel, advising them of the necessary action they will need to take. This will mainly involve ensuring that all personnel have up-to-date tetanus vaccinations.
Solicitor-General
Chief Crown Prosecutors
The number of chief Crown prosecutors in England and Wales who were from black and ethnic minorities, for which data are available, is shown in the following table.
Month/year Item BME White Total percentage April 2002 Number 4 36 Percentage 10.0 90.0 100 April 2003 Number 3 40 Percentage 7.0 93.0 100 April 2004 Number 4 36 Percentage 10.0 90.0 100 April 2005 Number 6 40 Percentage 13.0 87.0 100 April 2006 Number 7 38 Percentage 15.6 84.4 100
In common with other Whitehall Departments, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has produced a diversity delivery plan to support the delivery of targets across the senior civil service (which includes the chief Crown prosecutor grade) range of diversity categories by 2008. As at April 2006, the CPS has seven black and minority ethnic (BME) chief Crown prosecutors (of whom two are of Asian origin). This BME total represents 15.6 per cent. of staff at that level within the service.
Identity Theft
I have had no recent discussions with the Home Secretary on prosecutions for identity theft, but I have discussed the issue with Home Office Ministers, one of whom wrote to the hon. Member in February 2006 about identity theft.
Iraq
I have never been informed that “wetting” is official policy for dealing with looters in Basra. No witness statements saying that “wetting” is official policy for dealing with looters in Basra were disclosed to Crown counsel either prior to the trial of soldiers relating to the death of an Iraqi youth in the Shatt al Basra River or since the conclusion of these proceedings.
I am told that during the trial three witnesses gave evidence as to a practice of putting detained looters in water which appears to refer to “wetting”. Mr. Daniel O'Connell, formerly a Lieutenant Platoon Commander, said there was a practice of making looters wet which was discussed at the company “O” Group meetings; however it was not formal policy. He indicated that he had witnessed one such incident of looters being put into a dyke where they were waist high and in no real danger.
Major Peter MacMullen the Company Commander said that the looting problem was discussed at Battle group meetings and that he was aware of a range of sanctions that were being deployed, which included people being put into water so that they would be left cold, wet and miserable.
Mr. Niall Brennan, formerly the Company Second in Command, said he knew of other companies throwing looters into the Shatt al Arab River. He did not consider they were in danger of drowning and claimed that he did not consider this dangerous because it involved the use of minimum force.
Despite this evidence, coming from higher up the chain of command, the evidence given at trial made it clear that neither the commanders on the ground nor the individual soldiers were aware of such a policy or practice (officially sanctioned or otherwise). Not one of the accused raised this in their witness statements or interviews under caution. None of the members of their platoon or section who gave evidence knew of such a policy or had even heard of looters being put into water. Knowledge of the policy, if one did indeed exist, was restricted to the middle echelons of the chain of command only.
During the course of the trial a statement was obtained from the then Battle Group Commander, Brigadier Riddle-Webster, who said that the practice of “wetting” had never been discussed and had he heard of such a practice he would have put a stop to it immediately since he regarded it as illegal, dangerous and immoral. However due to legal reasons this was not put before the Board.
Judicial Review
The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost,
Private Members' Bills
Members will consider a range of possible subjects before introducing their Private Members' Bills.
Government draftsmen do draft some Bills in advance which are available as one of the options for Members to consider before they make their selection.
However, Members may make subsequent amendments or revisions to a Government-drafted Bill, or use it as the basis for a Private Member's Bill in the future.
The information requested is therefore not collected.
Trade and Industry
Advertising Campaigns
For expenditure on advertising campaigns run by the Department through the Central Office of Information from July 2004 until April 2006, the figures are as follows. Figures include Small Business Service, but exclude VAT.
(The Department does not centrally collect information on other campaigns, including those by non-departmental public bodies, and to do so would entail disproportionate cost.)
Amount (£) Consumer Direct 2005-06 1,277,850 SBS Business Link 2005-06 1,502,301 National Minimum Wage 2005-06 328,603 Directgov—DTI Employee Franchise 2005-06 117,690 Total 3,226,445
Amount (£) Consumer Direct 2004-05 706,488 SBS Business Link 2004-05 552,712 Import Licence Announcements 2004-05 74,300 National Minimum Wage 2004-05 315,754 Renewable Energy (Advertorials) 2004-05 15,542 Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2004-05 30,494 Firework Safety 2004-05 188,480 DTI—Dispute Resolution (media only) 81,768 SBS Press Media Buying Costs 2004-05 3,255 Total 1,968,793
Debt Collectors
The Department does not make use of private debt collectors. Of the executive agencies, Companies House uses the services of a debt collector in connection with the administration of the penalties raised on companies for late filing of accounts. The Insolvency Service uses agents for the collection of book debts (moneys owed by creditors to bankrupts and companies in liquidation) where the Official Receiver is trustee or liquidator and to collect costs from directors who are disqualified as a result of a court hearing.
Among the Department’s non-departmental public bodies, the use of private debt collectors is limited to a number of the research councils and regional development agencies as follows:
The Arts and Humanities Research Council has made limited use of an agency to help recover outstanding debts;
The Medical Research Council has used an agent to trace debtors, conduct correspondence, manage recovery schedules and where necessary prepare cases for County Court recovery;
Advantage West Midlands has used a firm of solicitors for collecting sales ledger debts over £500;
The London Development Agency has not had the occasion to employ any debt collectors, but has used firms of certified bailiffs with regard to repossessions, and these firms also provide this form of service. In addition the LDA outsources some of its estate management service to managing agents, and they have used certified bailiffs to recover bad debts;
The North West Development Agency uses certified bailiffs to recover unpaid rent via management agents.
The South West Regional Development Agency uses an agency to collect debts from tenants who owe the Agency rent;
Yorkshire Forward has used agents to collect debts such as non-payment of rent and to pursue small claims.
DNA Sequences
There are no specific regulations that govern the sale, supply, or purchase of DNA sequences. The potential chemical hazards associated with the sequence itself would be covered by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended); if DNA sequences were to be used to create a biological agent, the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000 (as amended) are likely to apply. These provide for a high level of protection for human health and the environment (including animal and plant health). In addition, the Specified Animal Pathogens Order 1998 (SAPO), administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regulates possession of nucleic acid derived from any animal pathogen specified under SAPO. In all cases the relevant containment and operating requirements laid down by Health and Safety Executive/Defra would need to be met.
Provisions in the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 place an obligation on managers of laboratories and other premises holding specified pathogens or toxins to notify the authorities and to comply with the security requirements which the police may impose.
There is a wide range of legitimate uses to which DNA sequences may be put and the imposition of onerous controls could discourage valuable scientific research and industry use. The Government do not believe that it is necessary to require suppliers of DNA sequences to be licensed or for them to screen customers or check the intended use of the sequences. But we will continue to monitor the situation as the relevant technologies develop.
Electoral Roll Fraud
I have been asked to reply.
We do not hold information as to the reasons why persons may apply to be on the electoral register other than for the purposes of voting in elections. In respect of the numbers of those persons specified in the question who may be on the electoral register, I explained in my previous answer on 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 1045W, that this information is not collected. Electoral registers are available for public inspection and anyone who believes that an ineligible person has been included may notify the ERO who may then make further inquiries as to the eligibility of that individual. Currently, it is an offence to fail to supply information to the ERO and knowingly supply false information on the annual canvass form.
The Electoral Administration Bill strengthens the objection process and creates a new offence of supplying false information of any kind to an ERO, or failing to supply information, in connection with registration, at any time. The electoral register does not specify the immigration or asylum status of individuals entered on it; however, the addition of a “nationality” box in the registration form does provide an opportunity for EROs to determine the eligibility of an applicant for inclusion in the register on the basis of their stated nationality.
Employment Act
The table shows the proportion of employees who have requested to work flexibly and the resulting acceptance rate, for each region/nation in Great Britain. These figures are from the second Flexible Working Survey (2005).
The new employment rights introduced on 6 April 2003 gave parents of children under six and disabled children under 18 the right to request flexible working. It is not known how many employees have requested flexible working since the right was introduced. The second Flexible Working Survey was conducted in January 2005 and respondents were asked to consider their last two years of employment.
Nation and region Employee requests for flexible working Acceptance (fully and partially) Great Britain 14 81 England 14 80 North East 13 1— North West 13 88 Yorkshire and the Humber 12 69 East Midlands 16 82 West Midlands 10 79 East of England 1— 1— London 15 81 South East 14 82 South West 17 79 Wales 14 1— Scotland 12 87 1 Reliable figures are not available due to small sample sizes. Source: Second Flexible Working Employee Survey 2005
Heavy Vehicle Fitter Apprenticeships
I have been asked to reply.
A key success criterion for Apprenticeships from the outset has been that the programme should be open to all young people regardless of gender, ethnic origin or disability and it should provide equal access particularly to those from potentially socially disadvantaged or marginalised groups. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has worked hard to establish and build on the Apprenticeship Frameworks and procedures required for successful equality. The Apprenticeships Approvals Group (independently chaired by the Skills for Business Network ie Sector Skills Council led) have a key role to play in ensuring that Apprenticeship Frameworks make all reasonable adjustments to maximise participation from diverse groups.
The LSC maintains a website detailing starts, leavers and completions of individual frameworks http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/partners/frameworks/ apprenticeshipsdata/. However, published figures for completions are not broken down by geographical area or sex. For this reason Mark Haysom, the council’s Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
Letter from Rob Wye, dated 28 June 2006:
I am responding on behalf of Mark Haysom, due to him currently being on annual leave, to your Parliamentary Question that asked the number of completed Heavy Vehicle Fitter Apprenticeships in England and Greater Merseyside, broken down by gender in each of the last 5 years.
The Vehicle Fitting Apprenticeship framework was implemented on 1st September 2005. This is in effect its first year for apprentices to enrol onto and as yet there is no usable framework completion data at any geographical level.
Prior to 1st September 2005 there were more generic Apprenticeship frameworks in operation for the Retail Motor Industry. An analysis of these framework completions where the NVQ within the framework is for “Vehicle Fitting” shows the following results,
Female Male Number Percentage Number Percentage Greater Merseyside 2002/03 0 0 10 100 2003/04 0 0 10 100 2004/05 0 0 30 100 England 2002/03 0 2 60 98 2003/04 0 1 120 99 2004/05 0 0 240 99 1 Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 for reasons of disclosure Source: LSC WBLILR.
Specific information regarding heavy vehicle fitting is not available at framework level or at NVQ qualification level, hence this response can only look at vehicle fitting in general.
The Learning and Skills Council publishes regular statistical information on Apprenticeships including framework completion data on its website (www.apprenticeships.org.uk). The information is provided for each Apprenticeship framework and as such the volume of completers nationally will be provided in future updates.
Consistent and high quality data is only available from the first full academic year following the commencement of the Learning and Skills Council in April 2001. For this reason the table above only shows information for the past three full academic years.
I trust this provides the information you require.
Ethnicity Participation Percentage of total participation Asian or Asian British 1,900 7 Black or Black British 2,400 8 Chinese 100 0 Mixed 700 2 White 22,100 78 Any other 550 2 Not known/not provided 650 2 Total 28,400 100 Source: F01 2005/06 ILR Results are rounded to the nearest 50 volumes <10 are suppressed
Gender Participation Percentage of total participation Female 16,350 58 Male 12,050 42 Total 28,400 100 Source: F01 2005/06 ILR Results are rounded to the nearest 50 Volumes <10 are suppressed
Disability Participation Percentage of total participation Visual impairment 50 0 Hearing impairment 150 1 Disability affecting mobility 100 0 Other physical disability 50 0 Other medical condition (for example epilepsy, asthma, diabetes) 350 1 Emotional/behavioural difficulties 50 0 Mental ill health 150 1 Temporary disability after illness (for example post-viral) — 0 Profound complex disabilities — 0 Multiple disabilities 100 0 Other 250 1 No disability 24,400 86 Not known/information not provided 2,750 10 Total 28,400 100 Source: F01 2005/06 ILR Results are rounded to the nearest 50 Volumes <10 are suppressed
Milk Co-operatives
I have been asked to reply.
Mergers, acquisitions and other competition matters are the responsibility of the competition authorities. These bodies are independent and the Government have no role in the administration of competition law, except in very restricted circumstances.
Ministerial Flights
DTI ensures that all flights undertaken by its Ministers and officials are carbon neutral by participating in the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.
Post Office Card Account
There have been no discussions on this issue between the Department and those banks that contributed to the establishment of the Post Office card account. The Post Office card account contract between the Department of Work and Pensions and Post Office Ltd will end in 2010 as always intended.