To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his Department has carried out any studies into Public Service Entitlement since 2004. (154974)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: In 2004, the Office of Public Services Reform undertook a review of understanding and enforcement among public service providers and business of rules on eligibility for public services. Since then, the Cabinet Office has supported interdepartmental ministerial consideration of related issues, including during the development of “Enforcing the rules: A new strategy to ensure and enforce compliance with our immigration laws”, which was published by the Home Office in March 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) ministerial committees and (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by his Department to liaise with the Ministers for Women. (155244)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: No committees or groups have been set up specifically to liaise with the Ministers for Women. As with all cross-cutting issues, Ministers and officials in DFID liaise with the Ministers for Women as necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints she has received from airline passengers in relation to delayed and lost baggage in each of the last six months; and if she will make a statement. (155528)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Department receives few direct complaints from airline passengers. This is because the Air Transport Users’ Council (AUC) is the passenger complaints body in the UK for airline services.

Figures from the AUC show that in the last six months it received some 3361 written complaints. Of these 234 related to lost or delayed baggage.

Passenger rights in respect of the loss, damage or delay to baggage are protected by international legislation. Under the 1999 Montreal Convention which came into force for the UK in June 2004 the carrier is prima facie liable for luggage that has been delayed, damaged or lost (unless the carrier can establish a defence under the Convention). The liability for delay, loss or damage to baggage is limited to 1,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) - approximately £820. These are maximum limits. Claims are assessed individually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average (a) number of trips and (b) trip length taken each year (i) by bus and (ii) in total was for people in each income decile and in each region in each year in which a national travel survey has been published. (152143)

Data available from the National Travel Survey are given in the tables which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. The National Travel Survey provides detailed information on personal travel in Great Britain. The sample size was increased in 2002; since 2002 the survey has been based on a random sample of around 8,000 responding private households each year.

Due to small sample sizes at the level of disaggregation requested, data from several survey years have been combined to produce more reliable estimates.

In 2006 a weighting strategy was introduced to the NTS to improve the reliability of the data. This weighting methodology has been applied to data back to 1995 so figures for earlier years are not directly comparable with data for 1995 onwards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by her Department on redundancy payments in the last 12 months. (153204)

The Department and its agencies had no compulsory redundancies in the 12 months ending March 2007.

For the cost of the voluntary exit scheme for the 12 months ending March 2007, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron), on 2 March 2007, Official Report, columns 1571-2W to the hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening).

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent by her Department on industrial tribunals in the last 12 months. (153207)

During 2006-07, the Department has identified incurred costs at industrial tribunals amounting to £176,456.

Figures for DSA and MCGA are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints she has received from passengers about Heathrow Airport in each of the last three months; and if she will make a statement. (155520)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Department for Transport received three complaints from passengers about Heathrow Airport in June, four complaints in July, and six complaints in August. These related largely to the management of outbound security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected cost is of each of the sections of the project to widen the M25. (155155)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The latest Ministerially approved estimate for each of the sections of the M25 widening is as follows:

The ministerially approved estimate for M25 Junction 27-30 (Section 4) referred to in the table, has recently been revised and will be included in the Environmental Statement for publication next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has held following the report of the Office of Rail Regulation on the increase in rail defects caused by heavier trains introduced over the last two years. (155158)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Department for Transport officials are engaged with Network Rail, train operators and the train manufacturers on the impact trains have on track.

Looking to the future the Department is taking a lead in specifying lighter trains that have been assessed using the latest industry models to optimise the train design.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by primary care trust the medical GP practices which use 0844 revenue-shaving telephone numbers; and what guidance he has issued on the use of such numbers. (155523)

The Department does not collect information on telephone numbers in use by general practitioners practices.

Lord Warner wrote to primary care trust chief executives on 19 December 2006 about the use of non-geographical (084) telephone numbers by NHS services. The letter has been placed in the Library and is also available at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersand circulars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_064287

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals convicted of benefit fraud in the last 12 months had (a) one, (b) two and (c) three or more previous convictions. (153053)

I have been asked to reply

DWP only keeps records of benefit fraud convictions. These records commenced in April 2002 to support the Loss of Benefit Provisions legislation (Two Strikes) introduced by the Social Security Fraud Act 2001, and information is kept for five years in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Our records show that of 6,061 benefit fraud convictions recorded between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2007, there were 66 convictions for a second benefit fraud offence and one conviction for a third benefit fraud offence.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his staff took early retirement in the last five years; at what cost; what grades of staff took early retirement; and what percentage of each grade took early retirement. (148809)

The number and grades of Treasury staff for whom early retirement or early severance was agreed in the last five years and the associated costs are as follows. An analysis of percentage of each grade could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2007, Official Report, column 1183W, on the Health Spending Team, whether this team has its own specific list of objectives that contribute to his Department's overall objectives. (153649)

The health team works in close collaboration with the Department of Health in seeking to ensure the best possible use of the resources allocated to health and social services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the Sydney Declaration on Climate Change. (155574)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Secretary of State for the Environment welcomes the Sydney Declaration and is pleased that climate change was on the agenda for the leaders’ summit for the first time.

The UK fully supports the view set out in the Sydney Declaration that a post-2012 framework must be based on UNFCCC principles. A concerted action involving all countries should be equitable, effective and follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities—and be underpinned by a shared vision of a long-term goal. The UK remains committed to negotiations under the UNFCCC process and hopes Bali will begin the process of full and comprehensive negotiations on a post-2012 framework which will take place over the next two years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government spent on energy conservation in (a) York and (b) Yorkshire in each year since 2004-05. (151561)

Energy conservation is a broad term that could refer to many activities implemented by a wide number of Government institutions. As such, it is not possible to accurately estimate total Government spend in these regions.

DEFRA’s main programme for improving the energy efficiency of vulnerable households is the Warm Front Scheme, which provides grants for heating and insulation measures. Warm Front spend on measures in York and Yorkshire is set out in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review (a) flood defences and (b) sea defences in the Bournemouth area following the summer 2007 flooding. (155460)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The recently commenced review of the Shoreline Management Plan, which is being led by Bournemouth borough council in conjunction with the Environment Agency, will consider long term management of flood and coastal erosion risk along this length of coast.

A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for Bournemouth borough council, Christchurch borough council, East Dorset district council, North Dorset district council and Salisbury district council is also underway. This will investigate and identify the extent and severity of flood risk to Bournemouth to enable the council to steer development away from those areas at highest risk; supplement current policy guidelines and provide a clear risk based approach to development control; and, contribute to the evidence base for the Local Development Framework and Sustainability Appraisal work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) properties and (b) businesses were affected by the summer 2007 floods, broken down by county. (155564)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Since the initial flooding in June, local authorities have been providing information about the number of residential properties and businesses affected by the summer floods. The information is held by local authority and region, rather than by county.

The figures, for properties, include only those residential properties where the habitable accommodation has been affected (that is, it excludes those where, for example, only garages and/or outbuildings were flooded).

The tables have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the environmental impact of the fluoridation of public water supplies. (155451)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: In 2000 the Environment Agency published a non-statutory environmental quality standard (EQS) for fluoride in water. The standard was informed by a review, carried out for the Agency, on the effect of fluoride on a range of aquatic life. This review drew on available research from recognised scientific laboratories and indicated that fluoride affects aquatic life at concentrations at 9.0-350.Omg/l depending on the hardness of the water and the sensitivity of the species tested.

Where public water supplies are fluoridated the concentration of fluoride is maintained at 1.0mg/l, and any discharges of these supplies into the aquatic environment would be further diluted through the process of collection and treatment of waste water. Therefore the environmental impact would not be expected to be significant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to which organisations and projects the £20 million announced in the Budget 2006 to help local authorities and other to promote energy efficiency and incentivise energy efficiency measures in households has been allocated; and how much has been allocated to each. (155237)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Of the £20 million announced in Budget 2006, £4.75 million was allocated to the energy demand research project, bringing total funding to £9.75 million for trials of household smart meters and displays and a broader range of behavioural measures. Around 40,000 households will be taking part in the trials, together with energy suppliers, metering/feedback device companies, specialist companies, charities and universities.

A further £10 million (£5 million in 2007-08 and £5 million in 2008-09) has been awarded to the Carbon Trust's Partnership for Renewables to create private-public partnerships to develop renewable projects on public sector land. It aims to develop 500 megawatts of capacity, and the programme is currently working with over 200 public sector bodies, including local authorities, the national health service and higher education authorities.

As part of a broader reprioritisation related to wider budget pressures, the remaining funds have been cut to £0.5 million. We are considering options for their best use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration was given to prioritising the repair and maintenance of the effluent pipes at Pirbright in the context of the current refurbishment of the site; what the estimated cost is of replacing the effluent pipes; and when his Department first obtained an estimate for such costs. (155573)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: I have been asked to reply.

The Pirbright Site Redevelopment Programme (PSRP) Board, comprising senior officials from BBSRC, DEFRA, DIUS, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and the Institute for Animal Health (IAH), is responsible for overseeing the redevelopment of the site including the drainage.

Tenders for the drainage system of around £220,000 were received in October 2006. DEFRA provided regulatory approval in early 2007. This scheme was approved by the PSRP Board in May 2007 and work began as planned in July 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what central Government funding to the Institute of Animal Health estate was in each year since 1997. (155476)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: I have been asked to reply.

Central Government funding for the Institute for Animal Health since 1997 was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to answer the letters to him dated 17 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. S. Chislett. (154979)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: A reply has been sent to my right hon. Friend today. I apologise for the delay in replying which is due to recent high volumes of correspondence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reports and publications the Department published in 2006-07; and how many of these were printed on 100 per cent. recycled paper. (155481)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Government have a duty to explain its policies, decisions and actions; to inform the public about their rights and liabilities; and to provide the public with advice and warnings. DEFRA publishes regularly reports and consultations in accordance with these principles, but to establish the combinations of such publications could be collated only at disproportionate cost. Print procurement policy is to produce the lowest quantity of publications to meet the specific needs of each case, thereby minimising waste. In the case of consultations most are handled on-line and stakeholders may download a copy for local printing. Copies will be supplied to order—printed digitally—on a limited basis, if requested, as will large print and Braille versions.

All the paper used to print reports and publications is based on a material that contains a minimum of 100 per cent. recycled fibre for uncoated papers, and 75 per cent. recycled fibre for coated papers. Print procurement policy is to use uncoated stock except where design, marketing and production requirements require coated stock.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many compensation claims were made under the (a) War Pensions Scheme in each year from 1997 to 2006 and (b) the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in each year since 2006; (155145)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Figures on the number of compensation claims made under the War Pensions Scheme and the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in each financial year and the total number of claims outstanding as at 31 March each year, including those that may have been registered in previous years, are set out in the following table. Information is not available for the number of claims made prior to 1 April 2000 or on the total number of claims outstanding before 31 March 2001.

Claims under both schemes require medical and other evidence to be gathered and assessed before a decision can be taken. The average clearance times for the two schemes in 2006-07 were 49 days for the War Pension Scheme and 34 days for the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military vehicles for use by the Army were purchased by his Department in 2006-07, broken down by country of manufacture. (155390)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: This information is not held in the format requested. The total number of vehicles purchased for use by the Army between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007 was 6,911. This figure includes some vehicles purchased for use on a tri-service basis. For the purposes of this question, purchased has been defined as ‘placed on contract’.

Military vehicle acquisition, however, is complex and, in most cases, no single country is responsible for the delivery of a vehicle. Components are often manufactured by different companies in different countries and then assembled by a systems integrator, who may be based in yet another country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many fatalities each unit that has served in Iraq has experienced; and how many of those (a) died in Iraq and (b) subsequently died of wounds elsewhere. (155268)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The Ministry of Defence publishes data on battle and non-battle fatalities, including their unit, that have resulted from our operations in Iraq since March 2003: details can be found on the Ministry of Defence website:

(http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqBritishfatalities.htm).

This information is updated after each incident.

The following table breaks down the number of military fatalities, by unit, in line with the information published on the website. In addition, one Defence Fire Service contractor has died on operations in Iraq.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the crew (a) requirement and (b) strength is for each helicopter type in the (i) Army Air Corps, (ii) Navy and (iii) RAF. (153319)

The current (a) requirement and (b) strength for crew personnel, for each relevant Unit/Squadron, for each helicopter type in the (i) Army Air Corps, (ii) Navy and (iii) RAF are shown in the following tables.

The actual strength of the two Apache Units (three and four Regiment Army Air Corps) reflects the fact that these helicopters are relatively new to service and as such these newly formed units will not achieve ‘steady state’¹ until 2010; we are in the process of manning these units and have a number of pilots in the training pipeline. Apache pilot availability is sufficient to meet operational requirements.

¹ Steady state is defined as the point at which the training pipeline is providing sufficient pilots to replace those lost through natural wastage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to locate further units of 16 Air Assault Brigade at Colchester Garrison; and if he will make a statement. (155480)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: There are no plans to locate further units of 16 Air Assault Brigade at Colchester Garrison.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current establishment of each (a) regiment, (b) corps and (c) sub-unit of the Territorial Army is. (152639)

I have written to the hon. Member today and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were recorded in respect of retailers selling alcohol to those aged under 18 years in each year since 1997; how many police cautions were issued; and what the average fine levied was. (154984)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: Information on the number of recorded offences of retailers selling alcohol to those aged under 18 years are summary and are not included in the police recorded crime statistics.

Statistics for the number of police cautions issued and the average fine have been provided by the Ministry of Justice and are given in the table for 1997-2005. Data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies have been undertaken into the effect of appellant asylum seekers who have been denied benefits on social services departments. (155332)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Asylum seekers are not eligible to receive income support, jobseekers allowance or other similar benefits. As such, no such studies have been undertaken by the Home Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many burglaries were (a) reported and (b) successfully detected in Surrey in each of the last five years for which figures are available. (155326)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The information requested is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in England and Wales were charged for the recovery of their stolen vehicle from police, and police approved, car pounds in each of the last five years, broken down by police force; and how much was received by such car pounds in each such year. (155540)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: This information is not collected centrally. When the police use their powers to remove and store any vehicle, including a stolen vehicle, that is illegally, dangerously or obstructively parked or broken down or abandoned, they may levy prescribed charges to cover the costs incurred. The charges are currently £105 for the removal and £12 per day for storage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much central government funding has been spent on closed-circuit television in York since 1997. (155494)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Since 1997, the Home Office has specifically provided the City of York with £268,000 for closed circuit television.

Other years' crime reduction funding has been allocated directly to the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and Basic Command Unit in York to finance a variety of interventions, including CCTV. Information about the allocation of that funding is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on public pay since her appointment; and if she will make a statement. (155135)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Since my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary’s appointment, Home Office Ministers have received correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members, police officers and others on the subject of police pay. The subject has also been raised at some meetings attended by Home Office Ministers. The 2007 police officer pay award has been addressed through the Police Negotiating Board in the usual way. Following the PNB’s failure to reach agreement, the issue will now proceed to the Police Arbitration Tribunal, before my right hon. Friend makes her decision. In doing so she will consider very carefully the recommendations that result from this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas visits were made by (a) officials and (b) Ministers within her responsibility, and at what cost, in each year since 1997. (151646)

Prior to the machinery of Government changes, the Home Office employed approximately 78,000 people. The Department's expenditure on foreign travel and accommodation in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table . Figures for 1997-98 to 2002-03 are for overseas travel only. Details of overseas accommodation for these years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The difference in costs over the period reflects the changing nature of the Home Office's business, in particular the growth of international terrorism, migration and international travel. Collaboration and information exchange with other countries on counter-terrorism activities and border control have become increasingly critical to the effective discharge of the Department's responsibilities for asylum, immigration and national security. This has involved higher levels of overseas travel.

Details on the number of visits could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Since 1999, the Government have published on an annual basis, a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500, as well as the total cost of all ministerial travel overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2006-07 is currently being compiled and will be published before the summer recess. All travel is undertaken in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were removed under immigration law to (a) Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) Congo (Brazzaville) in each of the last six months; and what plans he has to remove people to either country in future. (155330)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The table shows the number of failed asylum applicants removed to Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between January and June 2007 inclusive. This is the latest six-month period for which figures are available.

Information on the total number of persons removed between January and June 2007 (including non-asylum cases) is not available for release under National Statistics protocols.

On 23 August 2007, Justice Collins ordered that the removal of all unsuccessful asylum seekers to DRC must be deferred until the Country Guidance case is determined. In line with the High Court’s decision of 23 August 2007, the Border and Immigration Agency will not enforce the removal of Congolese asylum seekers to DRC until the Asylum Immigration Tribunal (AIT) has substantively considered the pending Country Guidance case. The High Court’s decision, however, applies only to unsuccessful asylum seekers and we shall continue to remove immigration offenders who are Congolese nationals and have no legal right to remain in the UK. There are currently no legal impediments stopping us from removing to Congo those Congolese nationals with no right to remain in the UK.

The Government are committed to providing protection to those individuals who are found to be in fear of persecution. It is only right that we provide that protection, but equally, it is only right that we enforce the return of those who have no right to remain here: this is a key part to upholding a robust and fair asylum system.

Copies of statistics publications are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics website at:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-EU citizens who reside in the UK gained entry to the UK through applying for a UK visa from another European member state. (140545)

The Home Office does not collect the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will list the steps which must be taken, and the requirements which must be met, for the relevant authorities of the Russian Federation successfully to obtain extradition of a person from the UK; and if she will make a statement. (155546)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The outcome of individual cases is determined by the provisions of the Extradition Act 2003 (as amended). Within what the law permits, the United Kingdom stands ready to render maximum assistance to all of its extradition partners. It is also open to those partners to consult the Crown Prosecution Service directly about the requirements of UK extradition law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were recorded in respect of cinemas allowing underage children into age-rated films in each year since 1997; how many police cautions were issued; and what the average fine levied was. (154986)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were recorded in respect of retailers selling video games or DVDs to under-age customers in each year since 1997; how many police cautions were issued; and what the average fine levied was. (154985)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: Information on the number of recorded offences of retailers selling video games or DVDs to under-age customers is not collected centrally. This is a summary offence and is not included in the police recorded crime statistics.

Statistics for the number of police cautions issued and the average fine have been provided by the Ministry of Justice and are given in the table for 1997-2005. Data for 2006 will be available in the autumn of 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to overseas nationals in each of the last 10 years. (152969)

Work Permit information is published in the 'Foreign labour in the United Kingdom: current patterns and trends' report authored by John Salt and Jane Millar from the 'Migration Research Unit, University College London' and is available at the following link:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/labour_market_trends/foreign_labour.pdf

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of individuals on the DNA database are under 16; and if she will make a statement. (155258)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: On 10 September 2007, 3.38 per cent. of persons on the National DNA Database were currently aged under 16. This figure represents persons sampled by police forces in England and Wales only, and includes some persons who provided a DNA profile voluntarily.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the annual cost was of (a) storing and (b) processing (i) DNA samples and (ii) DNA profiles taken for the National DNA Database in each year since 2000. (155342)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Cost figures for the storage of DNA samples are not centrally available. The costs for retaining DNA samples fall to individual police forces and are dependent on the contractual agreement between the force and the forensic supplier. This information is commercially confidential. The costs of retaining DNA profiles on the National DNA Database are essentially the costs of running and operating the database. These are set out in the National DNA Database Annual Reports for the years 2002-03 to 2005-06, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. The Annual Report for 2002-03 was the first annual report produced; and no information is available for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02. The costs of processing DNA samples for the DNA Database are available for the years 2000-01 to 2005-06 and are set out in the following table. In 2006-07, the Home Office ceased the payment of a separate specific grant for funding DNA activity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests have been made by (a) the Paladin team, (b) the Maxim team and (c) the Human Smuggling Unit since their inception; and how many of those arrests have resulted in (i) prosecutions and (ii) convictions. (154948)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The Paladin team was formed in October 2005 and became fully operational in February 2006. Since its inception they have arrested 25 people for trafficking-related incidents. They have had six convictions; all of these convictions are for facilitation. They have cautioned 11 persons— all for “facilitation” or “harbouring”—through their work at the Asylum Screening Unit.

Operation Maxim has been operational since March 2003 and has achieved the following arrests since its inception:

March 2003 to April 2004: 178 arrests

April 2004 to April 2005: 194 arrests

April 2005 to April 2006: 125 arrests

April 2006 to April 2007: 123 arrests

April 2007 to August 2007: 50 arrests.

Maxim prosecution data only cover the last two years and these are:

April 2005 to 2006: 46 persons prosecuted and convicted. Sentenced collectively 121 years and 5 months.

April 2006 to 2007: 37 persons prosecuted and convicted. Sentenced collectively to76 years and 9.5 months.

April 2007 to August 2007: 30 persons prosecuted and convicted. Sentenced collectively to 51 years and 2 months.

Currently the Maxim Organised Immigration Team has a 100 per cent. conviction rate.

The Human Trafficking Unit was launched on 7 March and is part of the Maxim team. Since its inception the unit has made 12 arrests for human trafficking. There are four cases currently on-going within the judicial system. There have been no convictions yet as all these cases are awaiting trial.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the establishment is of the Serious Organised Crime Agency; how many staff are dealing with human trafficking issues; and if she will make a statement. (155139)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: As at 31 July 2007 the SOCA budgeted headcount was 4,164 staff.

The Home Secretary's priorities for SOCA in its first year included that SOCA should devote a higher proportion of its resources and activity to intelligence work than the agencies that it replaced and that Class A drugs and organised immigration crime, in that order, should be its top priorities. Organised immigration crime covers both the organised facilitation of immigrants to the UK (people smuggling) and trafficking of people for criminal exploitation, for example prostitutes or forced labour (human trafficking).

As published in its 2006-07 Annual Report SOCA deployed 11 per cent. of its operational resource against organised immigration crime.

The UK Serious Organised Crime Control Strategy, developed by SOCA on behalf of UK Law Enforcement, has four programmes of activity directly focussing on organised immigration crime. This includes a programme on “Trafficking of people”, in particular women and children for the UK vice trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra resources have been given to local authorities to provide safe housing and special support to child victims of trafficking discovered as a result of Operation Pentameter 2. (155456)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Under section 20 of the Children Act 1989, local authorities have a legal duty of care to safeguard any child in need of protection and to provide accommodation.

Special arrangements have been made between local authority children's services and the police to ensure that any children discovered as being sexually exploited during Operation Pentameter 2 will be referred to the appropriate local authority's children's services as a child in need of protection. A letter from the Department of Children, Schools and Families to all directors of children's services alerts them to Operation Pentameter 2 and requests that a designated officer be in place to liaise with the police about child victim referrals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which and how many locations in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland will be used for the capture of UK citizens’ biometric data as part of the identity card scheme. (155466)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: No decision has been made yet on the number or location of biometric enrolment centres for identity cards. However, it is likely that they could be sited in the same location (but not necessarily the same offices) as the 69 local offices being opened throughout the UK for passport interviews.

Where the network of enrolment centres needs to be further expanded, we will first seek to use high street offices that are already used by central and local government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rate of incidents of gang-related kidnappings has been since April 2005, broken down by police area. (155365)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of gang-related kidnappings (a) which were unreported and (b) where no charges were forthcoming during the financial year 2006-07; and how many gang-related kidnappings occurred during each month of (i) 2005, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007, broken down by police area. (155570)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) ministerial committees and (b) permanent groups involving senior civil servants have been set up by her Department to liaise with the Ministers for Women. (155435)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced the new Cabinet Committee structure on 23 July 2007. The Domestic Affairs (Communities and Equalities) Committee, chaired by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, was one of the new Committees. The terms of reference for DA(CE) are:

“To consider policy relating to community issues, including community cohesion, equalities, wellbeing and public health; and report as necessary to the Committee on Domestic Affairs and the Committee on National Security, International Relations and Development”.

In addition to this and as with all cross cutting issues, Ministers and officials in the Home Office liaise with the Ministers for Women as necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted criminals were deported to their own country in each of the last five years. (155487)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: On 14 June the Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the Home Affairs Committee to provide the most recent information available on the deportation of foreign national prisoners. In this letter the Director reported that 2,784 foreign national prisoners were deported or removed in the financial year 2006-07. A copy of this letter is available from the Library of the House.

Statistics on the deportation of foreign nationals were last published in 2002. The data are available through the Home Office's Research Development and Statistics website at:

http://www.archive2.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm60/6053/6053.htm.

Published information on persons removed as a result of deportation action has not been available from 2003 onwards due to data quality issues. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate is putting in place new systems to improve its data collection systems for the future in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years were murdered as a result of (a) gun crime and (b) knife crime in each London borough in each of the last 10 years. (155142)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Available information relates to offences currently recorded as homicide that were caused by (a) shooting, which includes crossbows as well as guns and (b) a sharp instrument, which includes other sharp instruments as well as knives.

The number of homicides recorded by the City of London and Metropolitan Police Services between 1995 and 2005-06, where the victim is aged under 18, is given in the following table. Centrally-collected data cannot be broken down by London borough. Police force area breakdowns for homicides recorded during 2006-07 are scheduled to be published in January 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Government expects to pay Equifax for the contract to provide reference information on passport applicants in (a) financial year 2007-08 and (b) in each of the next three financial years. (155347)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: It is expected that spend on reference data provision in 2007-08 would be in the region of £392,000. The amount is variable depending upon the passport demand. This does not include software development and software/hardware development changes.

Spend in the following three years will be determined by the business model applied, which will drive the volume of checks, and negotiations with the reference information supplier.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many forged or false passports were seized at Heathrow and Gatwick airports in each of the last three years; and how many of those were from children. (154950)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: The activity of Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) based overseas together with other border control initiatives, has resulted in a fall in Inadequately Documented Arrivals (IDAs) reaching the UK from 11,233 in 2004 to 6,915 in 2006. Over the last five years the ALO Network has assisted in preventing nearly 180,000 IDAs from boarding aircraft.

Under carriers liability legislation, air and sea carriers may be liable for a charge of £2,000 for each person they carry to the UK who is subject to immigration control and who fails to produce either a valid immigration document satisfactorily establishing his identity and nationality or a valid visa, if required. Carriers' liability is now an important complement to our immigration control. Over 60 other countries, including most of Europe, have carrier liability legislation.

Figures for forged and false travel documents detected at Heathrow and Gatwick airports for the past three years are as follows:

The information provided is based on locally collated management information and as such may be subject to change.

Data relating to the age of those presenting such documentation are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales from (a) outside and (b) within the EU, other than the UK and Ireland, have been identified as liable for deportation. (155429)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: The Chief Executive of the Border and Immigration Agency provided the most accurate and robust information available on the issue of foreign national prisoners in her letter to the Home Affairs Committee of 14 June, a copy of which is available in the House Library. The automatic deportation provisions contained within the UK Borders Bill increase certainty by placing a duty on the Secretary of State to make a deportation order for foreign criminals who have been sentenced to either a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months, or a period of imprisonment of any length for a particularly serious crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the earliest stage is at which a foreign prisoner becomes liable for deportation during his sentence. (155501)

[holding answer 17 September 2007]: Foreign nationals are liable for consideration for deportation if they receive a custodial sentence and have either been recommended for deportation by a court or meet the interim criteria as outlined in my written statement to the House of 19 July 2006.

The provisions of the UK Borders Bill increase certainty by placing a duty on the Secretary of State to make a deportation order for foreign criminals who have been sentenced to either a period of imprisonment of at least 12 months, or a period of imprisonment of any length for a particularly serious crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when she expects to complete the review of Special Branch; and if she will make a statement; (155249)

[holding answer 12 September and 17 September 2007]: The review of Special Branch is a matter for the Association of Chief Police Officers, whose Terrorism and Allied Matters Committee is examining the work undertaken by the police service in support of national security intelligence, particularly the role and function of Special Branch. This review will involve wide consultation with experts and practitioners. I understand that it will be completed by the end of the year, and the Association of Chief Police Officers has undertaken to keep me informed.

Separately from this review, and following the announcement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25 July that the Government would integrate the vital work of the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and UK Visas overseas and at the main points of entry to the UK, the Cabinet Secretary is conducting a review on the stages ahead in implementation and whether there is a case for going further, while ensuring value for money. Special Branch will continue to play its full role, based on intelligence, at ports and airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were the subject of stop forms used by police officers in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary area in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement. (155320)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: Available information held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of stops and searches within the Cambridgeshire police force area is given in the table from 2001-02 to 2004-05 (latest available). Statistics for 2005-06 are due to be published later this year.

From 1 April 2005 police forces are required to ensure that a record is made by police officers of all stops. It is hoped to publish statistics on all Stops and Stop and Searches in 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) annual budget and (b) number of staff for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills will be when it is established in 2008. (152911)

[holding answer 26 July 2007]: I have been asked to respond to your query as it falls within my area of responsibility.

To strengthen the employer voice at the heart of the employment and skills system the UK Commission implantation project are working with the devolved administrations to establish a new UK Commission for Employment and Skills. The UK Commission will be a UK-wide body with responsibilities across each of the four nations, and for skills at all levels, as set in the Leitch review of skills: 'Prosperity for all in the global economy—world class skills'

The UK Commission will be primarily advisory, shaping strategy to achieve the Government’s world class ambitions and will not have significant executive or operational functions. Sir Michael Rake has been appointed as the chair and we are currently recruiting for a chief executive and commissioners.

The new UK Commission will open on 1 April 2008 and will incorporate those functions that the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) and National Employment Panel (NEP) currently undertake that fall under the remit and responsibility of the new organisation.

At this early stage of developments we are not yet in a position to be able to give defined numbers of staff and therefore an agreed budget.

I am of course happy to provide you with figures and numbers once these have been established and agreed with Departments and senior officials within the new UK Commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households received less than (a) 20 per cent. and (b) 30 per cent. of median income in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2006. (152743)

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-resident parents from whom the Child Support Agency is seeking to collect maintenance have arrears of over (a) £100,000, (b) £50,000, (c) £25,000, (d) £20,000, (e) £15,000, (f) £10,000, (g) £5,000 and (h) £1,000; and if he will make a statement. (146174)

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 18 September 2007:

In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.

You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-resident parents for whom the Child Support Agency is seeking to collect maintenance have arrears of over (a) £100,000 (b) £50,000 (c) £25,000 (d) £20,000 (e) £15,000 (f) £10,000 (g) £5,000 and (h) £1,000 and if he will make a statement [146174].

The information requested is provided in the attached table.

I hope you find this answer helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of the information and support service on child maintenance to be established by his Department by October 2008. (155001)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: It will be up to the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission to decide how best to deploy its resources to meet its statutory objectives. The overall level of resources allocated to the Commission will be negotiated in the usual way as part of the Department’s planning processes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consideration he has given to the possibility of contracting out the child maintenance information and support service to the private or voluntary sector; and if he will make a statement. (155004)

[holding answer 10 September 2007]: It is the intention to contract out the information and support service. We expect that the service will be delivered by a combination of private and voluntary sector providers working in partnership.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many non-resident parents were required, having had their Child Support Agency maintenance payments deducted from their income by their employer, to pay a second time when the employer’s business went into liquidation in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. (155203)

[holding answer 12 September 2007]: The information requested is currently not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of children living in poverty. (152841)