Written Answers to Questions
Friday 5 March 2010
Scotland
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
The Scotland Office does not maintain records of the administrative time provided to special advisers and therefore is unable to identify the full-time equivalent figure. However, no staff are solely dedicated to supporting special advisers.
International Development
Democratic Republic of Congo
All road rehabilitation projects funded by the Department of International Development (DFID) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are subject to Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs). The following amounts have been allocated to address environmental and social impacts of road rehabilitation projects currently funded by DFID:
£12 million, or 15 per cent., of a total contribution of £78 million from 2009 to 2013 for the ‘Pro Routes’ programme, in partnership with the World Bank.
£476,733, or 13 per cent., of a total contribution of £3.66 million from July 2009 to July 2011 for rehabilitation of roads in eastern DRC, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
£435,949, or 15 per cent., of a total budget of £2.79 million for the same period to rehabilitate a road from Kisangani to Ubundu in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Prime Minister has committed up to £1.5 billion in Fast Start finance over the next three financial years from 2010-11 to 2012-13. 20 per cent. of this total will be allocated for forestry, including planned investment in the Congo Basin Forest Fund. We are currently developing plans for 2010-11 and will determine priorities for 2011-12 and 2012-13 as part of the next spending review.
Departmental Paper
The Department for International Development (DFID) uses Office of Government Commerce (OGC) framework contracts for the purchase of all standard paper items such as A4 paper and envelopes in the UK. The majority of products are purchased from Banner Business Services, including general use paper from their Evolve range, which is made from 100 per cent. recycled content. More detailed information on paper products cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Departmental Temporary Staff
The Department for International Development (DFID) has formal arrangements with Margaret Hodge, Josephine Sammons and Manpower to provide temporary staff at the administrative level. In addition, professional and specialist temporary staff can be appointed through specialist suppliers without the involvement of DFID's Human Resources Division. Subsequently, there is no central record of the total number of temporary staff employed or the associated costs for each of the last three years. This information cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Food: Overseas Aid
The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing funds for agricultural research to the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). This enables us to harness the UK's world-class bioscience base to address the challenges of agricultural growth and food security in developing countries.
We fund two programmes jointly with BBSRC: a crop science programme, to which DFID contributes £5.34 million; and a livestock disease research programme, to which DFID contributes £9.7 million.
We are exploring a third collaboration with BBSRC into crop science which can help withstand the impact of climate change. DFID is also working with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other public sector funders to improve coordination of agriculture and food security related research.
Haiti: Earthquakes
The following equipment was used by the UK fire and rescue personnel deployed to Haiti; technical search equipment including cameras, listening devices and dogs; light concrete breaking equipment; hand tools including percussion rescue tool (PRT); chainsaws; lighting and generators; and medical kit including splints, pain relief and stretchers.
Details of funding provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) to non-governmental organisations and multilateral organisations to help the relief operation in Haiti are provided in the following table.
£ Non governmental organisation Merlin 398,998 Agency for Technical Co-operation and Development (ACTED) 400,000 Action Against Hunger (ACF) 1,000,000 Handicap International 500,000 Oxfam 1,000,000 Multilateral organisation Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 1,000,000 World Food Programme (WFP) 2,000,000 Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) 300,000 International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 1,120,000 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) 1,000,000
International Assistance
The Department for International Development (DFID) prioritises steps to ensure that all our aid is effective, whether delivered by DFID or through multilateral organisations.
For example we have recently conducted Portfolio Reviews in the Education and Health sectors which have shown that DFID is delivering excellent value. DFID’s bilateral aid to the education sector, delivered through Government systems, funds an estimated 5 million children through primary school. This aid is funding more children in developing countries than the number attending primary schools in the UK at just 2 per cent. of the cost. Similar reviews on Governance and Civil Society are currently under way.
Millennium Development Goals
At the G8 Summit in L'Aquila last year the UK successfully called for an international assessment of what is needed to achieve the MDGs. The needs assessment will take a broad based approach to what is needed to achieve the MDGs, retaining aid as a central component, while also taking account of other issues such as trade, aid effectiveness, climate change and international and domestic policy frameworks. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently undertaking this assessment and is due to produce a report in May.
Rwanda: Politics and Government
The UK Government are closely monitoring the progress made on the registration of political parties in Rwanda. Ten political parties are currently registered and a further two parties are attempting to register. The Department for International Development (DFID) is aware that some parties are reporting registration difficulties and we are pressing the Government of Rwanda to ensure that full political rights, within the framework of Rwandan law, are upheld.
Uganda: Armed Conflict
In 2009 the Department for International Development (DFID) provided over £100 million for humanitarian assistance to those affected by the activities of the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). Of this, around £70 million was provided through UN Humanitarian Pooled Funds, and the remainder through other UN agencies, NGOs and other partners.
Monitoring and security procedures are built into all DFID programmes as standard. This allows staff to assess the delivery and impact of UK aid, and closely monitor security risks. All UN pooled funds include mechanisms that enable all donors to monitor the delivery and security of assistance.
Work and Pensions
Children: Maintenance
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total value of overpayments made by the Child Support Agency was in each of the last three years. (318741)
The total value of child maintenance payments overpaid to a parent with care is included in the table below. This includes figures over each of the last three financial years to January 2010.
£ April 2007 to March 2008 6,203,754.72 April 2008 to March 2009 6,510,103.73 April 2009 to January 2010 6,497,860.88
These figures are for overpayments made by non-resident parents as a result of retrospective changes of circumstances and a consequent downward valuation of maintenance assessments. These recalculations usually occur as an outcome of new information being provided to the agency.
Where an overpayment is made the money is refunded to the non-resident parent.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Child Support Agency's policy is on payment by credit card from individuals in arrears. [318742]
The Child Support Agency has had the facility to accept credit and debit card payments since the introduction of Regulation 3 of the Child support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2006. This was introduced to provide access to a convenient and widely used method of payment.
The policy is to ensure the best payment agreement is reached with the non-resident parent without jeopardising the flow of regular maintenance payments. It is for the non-resident parent to determine whether it is appropriate to use a credit card to make the payments required by such an agreement.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what advice is given by the Child Support Agency to people liable for maintenance payments who are (a) in arrears, (b) late in making payments and (c) behind on their payment schedules on the use of credit cards to clear their arrears. [318745]
The Child Support Agency's Debt Steer states that the starting point when negotiating an arrears payment plan is to require full repayment immediately. Where this is not possible, the aim will be to reach an agreement that will achieve full recovery within, at most two years, with the discretion to accept an arrangement extending beyond this period where a client's circumstances warrant it.
In all cases involving arrears, caseworkers are instructed to discuss payment options that could be available to the client. Caseworkers do not provide financial advice, or recommend one payment option over another. Caseworkers can also signpost clients to other, independent organisations for financial help and advice where appropriate.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases of absent parents in (a) Scotland and (b) Angus constituency the Child Support Agency is managing. [318801]
In December 2009, there are 112,810 live and assessed cases in Scotland and 2,170 in the parliamentary constituency of Angus. These figures include old scheme cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment as well as current scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. Figures are adjusted to reflect those cases administered clerically.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases relating to absent parents resident in Milton Keynes the Child Support Agency is managing. [319003]
Latest figures available show as at December 2009, the number of cases in Milton Keynes is 4,480. These figures include old scheme cases with a full maintenance assessment as well as current scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. Figures are adjusted to reflect those cases administered clerically.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner as the Child Support Agency is now the responsibility of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases managed by the Child Support Agency relate to absent parents in (a) Scotland and (b) Moray constituency. [319674]
Latest figures show as at December 2009, the number of cases in Scotland is 111,050; of these 1,760 are in the Parliamentary Constituency of Moray. These figures include old scheme cases with a full or interim maintenance assessment as well as current scheme cases with a full maintenance calculation or default maintenance decision. Figures are adjusted to reflect those cases administered clerically.
I hope you find this answer helpful.
Council Tax Benefits
Council tax benefit provides financial assistance with payment of council tax bills to people on low income and plays an important role in helping to combat pensioner and child poverty. Modernising and simplifying the claims process is a key part of the Department's strategy to increase benefit take-up among both pensioners and people of working age. We are also introducing a range of measures to improve awareness among staff, customers and advisers of the help that council tax benefit can give to people both in and out of work.
The main focus of activity to help poorer pensioners has been the automation of the claims process. In December 2005 a shortened, three page claim form was introduced for housing benefit and council tax benefit replacing a claim form that ran to 28 pages. Completion of the form was undertaken on behalf of the customer by officials in the Pension, Disability and Carers Service at the same time as a claim to pension credit was made over the telephone. The form was then sent to the customer to check and sign and return to the local authority.
From November 2008, the need for the customer to complete and sign a claim form was removed and housing benefit and council tax benefit claims data have been sent direct to the local authority.
This automated claims process has been further enhanced and since January 2010, all local authorities are able to receive secure electronic transfer of data making the claiming process virtually automatic for all pensioner customers.
Jobcentre Plus has successfully rolled out a new process which makes claiming benefits, including council tax benefit, easier and faster for people moving into and out of employment. The in and out of work process involves Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and local authorities, working with Jobcentre Plus to smooth the transition for customers moving in and out of work reducing the number of organisations the customer has to contact at the point they make a new claim or when they start work. Jobcentre Plus gathers all the information and evidence that is needed for housing benefit, council tax benefit and tax credits improving the speed and accuracy of information sharing so that the right benefit is paid more quickly.
The Department continues to explore ways to make the claiming process more automatic through wider use of data sharing and also by data matching to assist local authorities to identify customers with potential entitlement. It will continue to look for service improvements on offer to pensioners for example by partnership working with local authorities and other agencies and signposting to the most appropriate contact point too pursue a benefit claim.
Departmental Manpower
The available information is in the table (data are not available prior to 2007):
Date Total number of Fraud Investigation staff (excluding Organised Fraud Unit staff) Total number of Organised Fraud Unit staff March 2007 2,785 233 March 2008 2,671 201 March 2009 2,564 214 September 2009 2,557 218
The decrease in the total number of Fraud Investigation Service staff needs to be seen against the pre-recession spending review efficiency challenge. There have been significant productivity gains and elimination of waste that have seen record numbers of benefit thieves caught and sanctioned. The numbers in the Organised Fraud Unit are a reflection of our commitment to tackle the serious and organised fraudsters who abuse the benefits system.
Departmental Written Questions
The information requested is in the following table:
2009 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Sept Oct Nov Dec Number answered on or before the named day 20 21 19 9 6 29 34 17 17 14 18 Number answered after the named day 62 83 91 29 47 65 43 44 53 35 34 Total number 82 104 110 38 53 94 77 61 70 49 52
The Department answered 829 named day questions in session 2008-09, of which 252 (30.4 per cent.) received a substantive reply on the named day.
In the 12 months to 31 January 2010 the average time taken by the Department to answer (a) ordinary written questions was 14.0 sitting days and (b) named day questions was 8.9 sitting days.
With effect from the current Session of Parliament, each Department will provide the Procedure Committee with sessional statistics on the time taken to answer written questions. This implements recommendation 24 of the 3rd report from the Procedure Committee, Session 2008-09
Housing Benefit
In August 2009, 48 per cent. of customers who received housing benefit under the local housing allowance arrangements had a shortfall of £23 per week on average. This relates to shortfalls caused by a customer's contractual rent being higher than the appropriate local housing allowance rate.
The information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The local housing allowance, rolled out from 7 April 2008, uses the appropriate local housing allowance rate, based on the area where the person lives and the size of their household, to determine the maximum amount to be included in the housing benefit calculation. Customers can choose to rent properties with rents below the local housing allowance rate and are able to keep the excess benefit up to a maximum of £15 per week. If the rent is higher than the local housing allowance rate they must make up the difference from other sources of income.
In August 2009, 25 per cent of customers who received housing benefit under the local housing allowance arrangements had their benefit paid to their landlord and 72 per cent had their benefit paid to themselves. For 3 per cent. of customers the payment destination information is not reliably reported.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Annual expenditure on the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme in the last three years was as follows:
£ million 2006-07 390 2007-08 430 2008-09 430
The latest available data are for the first quarter of 2009-10, for which the total expenditure on the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme was £120 million.
Source:
DWP Quarterly Statistical Enquiry
Pension Credit: Essex
Estimates of eligibility are not available below the level of Great Britain.
The latest estimates of the take-up rates and the number of those entitled but not receiving pension credit are published in the report “Income Related Benefits estimates of Take-Up in 2007-08”, which is available in the House of Commons Library or on the DWP website at:
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/irb.asp
Social Security Benefits: Aberdeenshire
Attendance allowance provides an important non-contributory, non-income-related and tax free cash contribution towards the extra costs of severely disabled people. The Government are committed to providing real help to disabled people, particularly through the early stages of economic recovery. This is why the Chancellor announced in the December 2009 pre-Budget report that attendance allowance would be increased by 1.5 per cent.—bringing forward help when it is most needed. Without this commitment, the recent negative growth in the Retail Prices Index would have meant that this benefit would not have increased in 2010.
From 27 October 2008 we replaced incapacity benefits for new customers with the employment and support allowance and a revised medical assessment which focuses on what people can do, as well as what they cannot.
The principal function of pension credit is to tackle pensioner poverty by topping up the incomes of pensioners over 60 to the guaranteed minimum amount appropriate to their circumstances.
The information requested is in the table.
Benefit Number of cases in payment Average weekly amount paid (£) Pension Credit (households) 4,570 48.81 Attendance Allowance 1,990 59.29 Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance 3,930 94.43 Jobseeker's Allowance 980 62.70 Notes: 1. Benefit recipients are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Average weekly amounts rounded to the nearest penny. 3. Benefit recipients receiving more than one of these benefits will be counted under each benefit. 4. Attendance allowance totals exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 5. These data do not include claimants of employment and support allowance introduced from October 2008. 6. All data refer to benefit recipients and will therefore exclude credits only and nil payment cases. 7. Household is defined here as the number of individuals or couples in receipt of pension credit and equates to a “benefit unit” which, since 2006, also include same-sex partners. Two individuals who are not partners but live in the same house are counted as separate households. Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.
State Retirement Pensions
(2) what financial corrections were made by the Government in respect of reminders for voluntary pensions contributions in each year between 1996 and 2002; and whether those corrections were made only in respect of individuals who had previously made voluntary pension contributions;
(3) how much has been paid in pension back payments to overseas residents who did not receive reminders about their voluntary pension contributions in each year between 1996 and 2002.
For the tax years 1996-07 to 2001-02 deficiency notices inviting customers with gaps in their national insurance records to pay voluntary contributions were temporarily suspended. Following the suspension my Department was responsible for contacting those people who reached state pension age between 6 April 1998 and 24 October 2004, and were due to receive a deficiency notice for one of more of the above tax years. An exercise started in September 2004 to contact such customers, where it would be beneficial for them to consider paying voluntary contributions.
Regulations allow for any customer who reached state pension age between 6 April 1998 and 24 October 2004 to pay voluntary contributions for the tax years 1996-07 to 2001-02. It is not possible to identify separately those who have made voluntary contributions after contact by my Department and those who have made them through their own inquiries. To date, following payment of voluntary contributions by individual customers, arrears of state pension amounting to £84.2 million have been paid to customers in Great Britain and £30 million to customers resident overseas. This is based on current information as customers still have until 5 April 2010 to decide whether to pay such voluntary contributions for these years. An annual breakdown of arrears attributable to voluntary contributions made in each of the tax years is not available.
The Department has received a number of representations on the uprating of additional pension.
Increasing the basic state pension along with pension credit is the most effective way of getting help to over 11 million pensioners in Great Britain.
In the absence of RPI inflation there is no legal requirement to uprate additional pension. We have therefore decided to adopt a more equitable approach to helping pensioners by increasing the basic state pension which goes to virtually all pensioners in Great Britain and pension credit which goes to the poorest.
Work Capability Assessment
Atos Healthcare doctors must be fully registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) without current or previous restrictions, conditions or warnings and hold a licence to practice from the date the GMC issues licences. In addition they must have at least three years post full registration (GMC or EEA—European Economic Area equivalent) experience. Alternatively for non EU graduates three years minimum post full registration experience in the doctors native country is required. In individual cases, solely at the discretion of the DWP chief medical adviser, the requirements that no conditions or warnings be attached to registration and that the doctor must have a minimum of three years post registration experience, may be waived.
Atos Healthcare nurses must be fully registered (level 1) Registered General Nurses without current or previous restrictions or cautions with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. In addition they must have at least three years post full registration experience. In individual cases, solely at the discretion of the DWP chief medical adviser, the requirements that no cautions be attached to registration and that the nurse must have a minimum of three years post registration experience, may be waived.
Atos Healthcare doctors and nurses are specifically trained to provide decision making authorities with independent, accurate and authoritative advice and reports on the effects of disability.
Initial Training: varies in detail according to which benefit is involved. However all such training follows a similar basic pattern, as follows:
Theoretical Training: Theoretical training commences with a trainer led theory based course usually delivered to a group of trainees in a classroom setting. Trainees who are new to the work of Atos Healthcare will receive instruction in such areas as disability analysis, customer's rights, equal opportunities and professional standards. Detailed technical information relevant to the benefit concerned is provided. All Atos Healthcare trainers have undergone specific training to prepare them for the role, including practical sessions to enhance their understanding of how adults learn.
Practical Training: Practical Training is the work undertaken by the new recruits that is produced in a controlled environment. For examination centre based assessments the trainee is supervised and appraised by an experienced medical adviser as they complete their introductory cases. In the domiciliary visit based benefits the initial cases are monitored immediately on return to allow feedback to be given without delay.
Demonstration of understanding assessed by multiple choice examination: for incapacity benefit, employment and support allowance and disability living allowance the trainee is required to attain a pass mark in a multiple choice questionnaire before they are allowed to proceed to the practical training. The questionnaire includes questions on the whole range of topics covered in the training course.
Demonstration of understanding by audit: In all benefits the initial cases produced by the trainee are target monitored by an experienced medical adviser and the training cannot be considered as complete until the HCP has demonstrated that their work is acceptable. Whenever any problems are identified appropriate feedback is provided. Further cases are monitored until the work is shown to be satisfactory. If the situation is not rectified the HCP may be required to repeat the entire training process. Continued lack of progress will result in the HCP being offered no further training and no further work.
Approval: All HCPs must be approved by the chief medical adviser to the DWP and separate approval is required for each benefit area in which the HCP is involved. Approval is dependent on successful completion of all stages of their training process and ongoing demonstration that the work being carried out meets a satisfactory standard.
Written Guidelines: As part of the trainees training and ongoing support, HCPs are issued with guidelines pertaining to the benefit involved. These guidance notes provide specific technical advice about the benefit concerned, outline best practise and contain general advice about disability analysis and service to the people with disabilities.
Transport
A19: North Tyneside
The proposed improvements by the Highways Agency to the roundabout where the A1058 slip road and the A19 meet are an interim scheme designed to relieve congestion at the roundabout in the short term until a major improvement scheme can be delivered. In the Highways Agency's contract for these works, there will be a requirement to maintain two lanes in both directions for traffic on the A19 during peak periods.
By increasing the available road space at the junction, this scheme should make it easier to manage traffic flow during the construction of further future improvements, such as the major improvement scheme for the Interchange.
During the development of the interim scheme, discussions have been held with the designer of the major improvement scheme to ensure that there is a minimum of abortive work, and that the two schemes are compatible. The precise traffic management requirements for the major improvement scheme will not be decided until a contractor is appointed, but it is envisaged that the scheme can be constructed without major disruption, with two lanes maintained in both directions for traffic on the A19 and A1058 Coast Road during peak periods.
Bus Services: Concessions
It is difficult to predict the cost of mutual recognition of concessionary travel bus passes across the devolved Administrations because the precise pattern of passholder travel is not knowable in advance. However, the Department for Transport has commissioned some research and this suggested that mutual recognition, excluding Northern Ireland, could cost in the region of £11 million per annum. This does not take into account the potentially significant costs of harmonisation of the different concessionary travel schemes which apply in England, Wales and Scotland.
Parking Offences
The Secretary of State has the power to revoke a Statutory Instrument that designates the whole or part of a local authority's area as a civil enforcement area for parking contraventions on the application of that authority. Each application would be considered on its merits. There is no power to suspend such an instrument.
We have no plans to carry out such assessments. Councillors are accountable to the electorate, rather than to the Government, for the performance of their local authority. The Government's longer term vision for local government involves councils reporting less to central Government and more to their local communities.
Children, Schools and Families
Class Sizes
The following table provides the pupil:adult ratios for local authority maintained secondary schools in St. Albans constituency and England, January 2009.
Secondary England 10.7 St. Albans 11.5 1 The within school PAR is calculated by dividing the total full-time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of all teachers and support staff employed in schools, excluding administrative and clerical staff. 2 Excludes city technology colleges and academies. Source: School Census
Solicitor-General
Departmental Paper
The information requested is as follows:
Attorney-General's Office (AGO)
Where possible, the AGO uses recycled paper products. Where it is not recycled, it is sourced from ‘well-managed forests’. The hand towels, which are currently ‘virgin pulp' are being switched to a 100 per cent. recycled product once current supplies are exhausted
Brand Supplier Paper type Size Weight Recycled content Evolve Eximedia Copier paper A4 80g/m 100 per cent. Steinbeis Banner Copier paper A3 80g/m2 100 per cent. Xerox Symphony Banner Copier paper—green A4 80/gm Virgin Letterheaded paper Eximedia Ministerial paper A4 100g/m Virgin Viking Viking White Card A4 160g/m2 Virgin Luxury whisper Mayflower Toilet tissue — — 100 per cent. Tork premium Mayflower Hand towels — — Virgin Katrin classic Mayflower Kitchen roll — — 100 per cent.
National Fraud Authority (NFA)
The NFA is committed to using suppliers that are contracted via the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions Framework to ensure value for money; procuring paper products that are sustainably sourced where possible. In 2008-09 all paper products used by NFA were sourced from sustainable forests and are 100 0 per cent. recyclable. Current brands used are as follows:
Type Supplier Brand Specification Copier paper Lyreco UK Ltd. Navigator Universal A4 and A3 80gsm White Printing paper Lyreco UK Ltd. Navigator Universal A4 and A3 80gsm White Banner Business Supplies Xerox A4 Symphony Tint 80gsm Green
No orders were placed for paper packaging, craft materials or hygiene products
between August 2008 and March 2009.
Serious Fraud Office
SFO policy on the procurement of paper and paper products is (wherever possible) to meet the “Buy Sustainable—Quick Wins” best practice specifications issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Suppliers used are ‘Talk paper’ and ‘KH packaging’. The brands are as follows:
Paper brand
Evolve Office
Evolve Office 2 Hole
Drilled
Data Copy Colour
Data Colour
Data Colour Every day
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a national framework contract with Office Depot for the supply of general stationery items and photocopying paper. CPS Sustainable Procurement Policy mandates that relevant products are purchased in accordance with the Office of Government Commerce's list of quick wins.
The CPS does not keep central records of the brands of paper products purchased and to obtain these details would involve manually checking paper records throughout the organisation and would incur disproportionate cost.
According to records supplied by Office Depot brands of paper purchased during 2008-09 include Niceday, Epson, Evolve, Hewlett Packard, Xerox, Datacopy, Steinbeis and Conqueror.
The CPS is a devolved organisation and it is possible that additional paper products outside of the Office Depot contract have been purchased. To obtain details of these including the brands of items would incur disproportionate cost.
Prior to the merger of the two departments in 2009-10 Revenue and Customs Prosecutions' Office (RCPO) obtained all its paper supplies, other than the fine quality bond paper, from Premier Beswick Paper mills, who are a recommended supplier from OGC. All the paper provided by Premier Beswick is 100 per cent. recycled.
Treasury Solicitor's Department
The Treasury Solicitor's Department (TSol) utilises (a) Banner Office Supplies and Exi Serve Ltd. and (b) paper products as follows:
Size Stationery items—supplier and brand both Banner Office Supplies A-Z index books A4/A5 Memo pads A4/A5 Shorthand notebooks A5 Plain pads A5/A6 Post-it notes Small/medium/large Blue inserts/spines/corners — Photocopying paper (part recycled fibres) A4 Photocopying paper (part recycled fibres) A3 Envelopes—supplier and brand both Banner Office Supplies A5 White Window 229x162 A5 Plain 229x162 A4 Window — A4 Plain — Plain 254x178 Plain 381x254 Window 110x220 Plain 110x220 Plain 406x305 Transit envelopes Medium/large Stationery products—supplier Exi Serve Ltd; Brand Q-Connect Business storage boxes/archive boxes — Counsel note books —
The Treasury Solicitor's Departments policy is to procure, where possible, all items of paper products from Banner Office Supplies under a framework agreement negotiated by HM Revenue and Customs and to ensure that items are procured in the most cost-efficient and environmentally manner possible.
HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
HMCPSI have adopted sustainable procurement and are working with TSol towards adopting their e-procurement policy and framework. Wherever possible, HMCPSI are committed to meet the “Buy Sustainable—Quick Wins” best practice specifications issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The following table shows the (a) suppliers (b) brands of (i) paper and (ii) paper products bought during the financial year 2008-09.
(a) Supplier (b) Brands (i) Paper (ii) Paper products Lyreco UK Ltd. Evolve which is 100 per cent. recycled content Copier/office paper — Paperback Ltd. Croxley Heritage which is 80 per cent. recycled content Letterhead — Paperback Ltd. Evercolour which is 100 per cent. recycled content Coloured paper — Xerox (MOJ) supplier Usually Xerox own brand paper. No definite figure for recycled content but meets government standard Report Printing — Pioneer Quality Services and their sub-contractors No information supplied by contractor — Toilet paper and hand towels Lyreco UK Ltd. Impega and Tyrek—company brands. They are endorsed by the Forest Stewardship Council and are sourced from sustainable forests and are 100 per cent. recyclable — Envelopes
Hotels
The following five star hotels were booked for civil servants carrying out official duties. SFO policy is that hotel expenditure should meet the SFO hotel booking policy which compares favourably with wider Government service policies. Hotels with five star ratings have only been selected in exceptional circumstances where other lower ratings were not available or suitable. The geographical location of the hotels has not been specified because all the bookings related to investigations conducted by the Serious Fraud Office into possible criminal activity.
Hotel name Arrival Hilton 25 May 2009 Hilton 25 May 2009 Inter-Continental hotel 26 Aug 2009 Radisson 20 May 2009 Radisson 15 Sep 2009 Radisson 02 Mar 2009 Radisson 02 Mar 2009 Radisson 03 Aug 2009 Radisson 22 Apr 2009 Radisson 22 Apr 2009 Radisson 22 Apr 2009 Other unnamed hotel 05 Jul 2009
Royal Family
The only member of the Royal Family whom the Attorney-General, as Her Majesty's Attorney-General, is on occasion called upon to advise is the Queen.
Royal Family: Wills
(2) if she will publish the record of the discussions between the Palace, Farrers, the Attorney-General's Secretariat, the Attorney-General, a Senior District Judge, and President of the Family Division on the practice of sealing of royal wills before and after the death of the late Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret Countess of Snowdon, but prior to the issue of any proceedings to the sealing of royal wills.
There have from time to time for many years been discussions between interested parties about the practice of the sealing of royal wills. It is not usual practice to comment on discussions undertaken in confidence with the Royal Household or their legal representatives.
The Attorney-General did attend court hearings to determine whether the wills of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret should be sealed.
Health
Departmental Pay
The Department paid the following amounts, as reimbursable expenses, over the past five financial years:
£ 2009-10 (to date) 476.69 2008-09 738.62 2007-08 1,156.28 2006-07 501.49 2005-06 1,081.34
Grimsby
The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. 93 per cent. of people nationally now rate the NHS as good or excellent. The NHS Constitution contains 25 rights and 14 pledges for patients and the public including new rights to be treated within 18 weeks, or be seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks and an NHS health check every five years for those aged 40 to 74 years.
There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Great Grimsby constituency. For example:
Figures for December 2009 show that in the North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus:
99 per cent. of patients whose treatment involved admission to hospital started their treatment within 18 weeks.
99 per cent. of patients whose treatment did not involve admission to hospital started their treatment within 18 weeks.
In December 2009, at the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 98.5 per cent. of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge.
Between September 2002 and September 2008, the number of consultants at the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has increased from 120 to 141. Between September 2002 and September 2008 the estimated number of nurses has increased from 1,646 to 1,826.
Between September 2001 and September 2008 the number of general practitioners (GPs) per 100,000 within the North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus has increased from 55.9 to 62.6.
96.3 per cent. of urgent GP referrals to the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with suspected cancer are seen by a specialist within two weeks of the referral (as at December 2009).
In July 2009, a new GP-led health centre opened in Grimsby town centre. The health centre is open from 8 am until 8 pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and offers bookable appointments and walk-in services for any member of the public.
There is one publicly funded scheme in the area that serves this constituency: a £12 million women and children's unit at the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, which opened in February 2004.
Although statistical information is not available at a local level, Great Grimsby will have also benefitted from national policies in other areas. For example:
Since 1997, gross current expenditure on personal social services has increased by around 70 per cent. in real terms with around 105,000 households now receiving intensive home care and 3,076 new extra care housing units—exceeding the original target of 1,500 new extra care units.
Other strategies currently being implemented are:
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Personal Care at Home Bill will guarantee free personal care for 280,000 people with the highest needs and help around 130,000 people who need home care for the first time to regain their independence.
‘Shaping the Future of Care Together’ Green Paper, published in July 2009, sets out a vision of a National Care Service for all adults in England which is fair, simple and affordable. The Department has consulted widely on this reform and is currently analysing the responses, which will feed into a White Paper later this year.
The National Carer's Strategy (‘Carers at the heart of 21st century families and Communities’), launched in 2008.
The first National Dementia Strategy was published in February 2009.
‘Valuing People Now’, a three year strategy for people with learning disabilities published in January 2009.
‘New Horizons: A Shared Vision for Mental Health’, launched in December 2009, to maintain improvements in mental health services combined with a new cross-Government approach to promoting public mental health.
Since 1998, there are now 2.4 million fewer smokers in England as a result of the Government's comprehensive tobacco control strategy which has a measurable impact on reducing smoking prevalence.
Child obesity levels are reducing due to the efforts of families across England, supported by the Government's obesity strategy. In 2008, 13.9 per cent. of children (aged two to 10) in England were classified as obese, compared with 17.3 per cent. in 2005.
Overall, life expectancy at birth for men has increased from 74.5 years (1995-97 data) to 77.7 years (2006-08 data) while for women, life expectancy at birth has increased from 79.6 years (1995-97 data) to 81.9 years (2006-08 data).
Health Services: Isle of Man
The Department took the decision to end the reciprocal healthcare agreement between the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man, as it no longer represents value for money to the UK taxpayer. Neither Flybe, nor other carriers, were consulted as part of that process. However, the Department will be targeting the tourist industry as part of a campaign to raise awareness that the agreement with the Isle of Man will be ending.
Illegal Immigrants
No illegal immigrants have been found to be working within the Department or its agencies in the last five years.
Mobile Phones: Children
The Department's leaflet, “mobile phones and health”, including advice concerning children’s use of mobile phones, is available on the Department’s website at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4123979
The Department keeps this leaflet under review to ensure the presentation is fresh and effective. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
Advice on using mobile phones is also available on the NHS Choices website at:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/mobile-phone-safety/pages/risks.aspx
The Health Protection Agency's Radiation Protection Division advises the Government on science matters concerning electromagnetic fields and has recently reviewed its website advice on mobile phones at:
www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733769169
NHS: Finance
This information is not held centrally. Any data on payments to the above bodies would be held at local trust level. One of the measurement criteria in the NHS staff survey is
“Percentage of staff experiencing bullying & harassment from staff (manager, team leader or other colleague) in the previous 12 months”.
The next staff survey results are due on 17 March 2010.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Flood Control
The Environment Agency keeps a public register of the 2,102 (1,899 in England) large raised reservoirs which are capable of holding 25,000m3 or more of water above natural ground level. The Environment Agency is the enforcement authority for the Reservoirs Act 1975 in England and Wales.
The register does not contain details of the systems for releasing water from the reservoirs. However, most reservoirs do have such systems for operation and maintenance purposes.
The Environment Agency is the operator for 182 flood storage reservoirs in England. The purpose of these reservoirs is to provide storage for excess rain.
Horses: Anaemia
There have been two cases of equine infectious anaemia reported in the UK in the last five years. The first was in Northern Ireland in September 2006, the second was in England in January 2010.
Livestock: Exports
Statistics on numbers of animals consigned for export from Great Britain are not routinely collated (although numbers of export consignments are). Nor are statistics collated on whether consignments are for breeding, further fattening or slaughter, or numbers of weaned or unweaned calves.
Information for trade within the European Union is currently being sought through the European Commission. However, the system used to access this has been unavailable since 22 February although the Commission has been contacted and is expected to provide this information shortly. The information for non-EU trade can be gathered by scrutinising the export certificates for each of the 49 consignments in 2009, though this could not be achieved within the timescale required for this response but will be supplied subsequently.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Languages
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not provided or funded, coaching in a foreign language to Ministers or civil servants in the last 12 months.
Departmental Paper
The majority of divisions within the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) use a central contract to procure copying paper. Suppliers on this contract are Antalis; Banner; Office Depot and Supplies Team.
Brand details of copying paper procured through this contract are:
Everyday Business recycled paper A4 80 gsm white;
Evolve Business recycled paper A4 80 gsm white;
Xerox recycled paper A4 80 gsm (various colours);
Banner minute sheets A4 and A5 sizes 70 gsm;
Steinbeis recycled paper A4 80 gsm white.
Separate arrangements are in place for our London Office, who source copying paper via locally based suppliers. The local supplier used is Xerox. The brand of paper procured is Xerox Supreme recycled paper A4 80 gsm white.
All brands of copying paper procured by the Department are 100 per cent. recycled.
There are local arrangements in place in each NIO location with landlords providing paper based products such as kitchen and toilet rolls. There is no central list of the suppliers or brand names of these products.
Departmental policy is to procure recycled copying paper and paper products in line with the Quick Wins targets set by the Government.
Illegal Immigrants
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has not appointed any staff since 2005 who were later discovered to be illegal immigrants.
Business, Innovation and Skills
UK Innovation Investment Fund
The UK Innovation Investment Fund brings together public and private sector finance to back the best of British Innovation. The fund has appointed two managers, Hermes Private Equity and the European Investment Fund. There is a total pool of capital of £325 million. £200 million will be invested through the EIF's UK Future Technologies Fund in areas such as ICT, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. £125 million through the Hermes Environmental Innovation Fund will specialise in cleantech and low carbon. We expect these two funds to begin investing over the next few months.
Science and Knowledge Transfer
Independent studies have shown that excellent research improves the performance of existing business, creates new business, delivers highly skilled people to the labour market and attracts research and development investment from global business.
UKTI used the strength of the research base to attract 450 R and D investments to the UK between 2007-08 and 2008-09.
Business Funding
During the economic downturn, the Government have supported thousands of businesses of all sizes by way of a number of programmes through a combination of grants, guarantees, investments and loans. Through the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, over 8,000 businesses have been offered loans totalling over £850 million. Through the Regional Transition Loan Fund, over £40 million of loans have been agreed. And 160,000 businesses have been able to spread £5 billion in business taxes through allowing businesses more time to pay their tax bill.
Statutory Redundancy Pay
The Government believe that the age bands in the statutory redundancy scheme are objectively justified. The lower band is designed to encourage employers to recruit and retain younger workers.
Aerospace Industry: Skills
We are working closely with aerospace businesses to understand their requirements, and with organisations like the Sector Skills Council for Science Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies and the Aerospace Defence Security Industries trade association, who are helping businesses plan their individual skills needs through a Strategic Workforce Planning tool. Building on this, the Aerospace Defence Security Industries trade association is developing a Roadmap to provide a clearer signal of the sector’s skills needs.
Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council
[holding answer 3 March 2010]: BBSRC has recently announced 16 projects that will be funded through the 'Combating infectious diseases of livestock for international development' initiative. BBSRC is also currently funding projects through other initiatives on endemic diseases, avian influenza, blue tongue virus and swine flu. Details are on the web at
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Publications/100215-cidlid-brochure.pdf
BBSRC is also involved in an initiative led by DEFRA on Emerging and major infectious diseases of livestock. The projects to be supported under this initiative have yet to be assessed.
In addition to these initiatives BBSRC has also supported research projects on animal disease through core funding to the Institute for Animal Health (IAH), which in 2008-09 totalled £9.5 million with a further £19.6 million of capital funding related to research on animal disease in 2008-09.
In 2008-09, BBSRC total spend on animal disease research was around £31 million.
Copyright
[holding answer 4 March 2010]: Copyright is a private property right. In the vast majority of cases of copyright infringement, the law provides this is a civil wrong. As such it is not for Government to intervene in the enforcement of a private right. The Government are however aware of the need to ensure that the copyright framework is fit for purpose, such that copyright owners are able to take action to enforce their own rights if appropriate. Our proposals in the Digital Economy Bill will improve the options available to copyright owners in the case of online infringement of their rights. Our strategy published last October, ‘Copyright—the way ahead: A Strategy for Copyright in the Digital Age’, takes a broader view at changes that may be necessary to keep pace with developments. It can be found at:
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/c-strategy-digitalage.pdf
The Government also believe there must be an appropriate and proportionate legal framework in place to tackle criminal infringement of copyright. As part of this framework, the Digital Economy Bill will introduce increased financial penalties for online and physical copyright infringement.
Graduates: Government Assistance
The total number of people who attended a Flying Start - Make it Happen day between 27 October and 10 December is 1,066. Since January 2010 the Make it Happen day events have been combined with the self-employment and business start-up programmes, and between 19 January 2010 and 25 February 2010, 544 people have attended such combined events.
The Make it Happen programme is aimed primarily at unemployed graduates; however, students—especially final year students—are not discouraged from attending a Make it Happen event.
The following table shows the numbers of graduates and students to have registered with Make it Happen since its launch in September 2009, broken down by University, and whether a student or graduate, where this is known.
University Number of graduates Number of students Aberystwyth, University of Wales 9 3 Anglia Ruskin University 5 1 Architectural Association School of Architecture 1 — Aston University 34 10 Bangor, University of Wales 7 3 Bath Spa University 12 3 Bedfordshire (University of Luton), University of Bedfordshire 20 2 Bell College 1 — Birkbeck, University of London 8 2 Birmingham City University 32 8 Bournemouth University 94 16 Brunei University 37 15 Buckinghamshire (Bucks) New University 11 2 Business Link 6 — Business Support Organisation 1 1 Canterbury Christ Church University 7 39 Cardiff University 18 — Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London 1 — City University, London 18 13 College of St. Mark and St. John 1 1 Coventry University 32 37 Cranfield University 8 3 Dartington College of Arts 2 2 De Montfort University (Leicester) 22 1 Edge Hill University 7 1 Edinburgh College of Art 2 — Falmouth, University College 12 12 Glasgow Caledonian University 2 — Glasgow School of Art — 1 Goldsmiths College, University of London 19 3 Grimsby Institute of Higher and Further Education 2 — Harper Adams University College—Shropshire 2 1 Henley Management College 1 1 Heriot Watt University 4 — Imperial College London 23 13 Keele University 5 — Kent Institute of Art and Design 2 — King's College, University of London 26 16 Kingston University 59 86 Lampeter, University of Wales 3 — Lancaster University 26 9 Leeds Metropolitan University 66 37 Liverpool Hope University 13 22 Liverpool John Moores University 45 3 London Business School, University of London 3 1 London Metropolitan University 67 18 London School of Economics and Political Science 10 9 London South Bank University 27 8 Loughborough University 26 2 Manchester Metropolitan University 99 24 Middlesex University 37 12 Newman College of Higher Education — 1 Napier University 1 — Newcastle University 14 — Newport, University of Wales 8 — North East Wales Institute 2 — Norwich School of Art and Design 1 — Nottingham Trent University 23 4 Open University London 31 11 Other HE/FE Institution 49 15 Overseas University 20 — Oxford Brookes University 36 90 Queen Margaret University College 1 1 Queen Mary, University of London 35 6 Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 1 — Robert Gordon University 7 1 Roehampton University 15 5 Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester 1 — Royal College of Art 1 — Royal Holloway, University of London 4 7 Royal Veterinary College, University of London 2 — Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama 1 — School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 6 2 School of Pharmacy, University of London 1 — Sheffield Hallam University 69 52 Southampton Solent University 15 5 St. George's, University of London 1 3 Staffordshire University 18 — Surrey Institute of Art and Design, University College 7 1 Swansea Institute of Higher Education 3 — Swansea University 6 — Thames Valley University 28 5 The Arts Institute at Bournemouth 6 3 The Open University 4 4 Trinity and All Saints College (Leeds) 5 — University College Birmingham 4 2 University College for the Creative Arts 27 6 University College London, University of London 43 15 University of Aberdeen 2 1 University of Bath 13 1 University of Birmingham 36 12 University of Bolton 64 22 University of Bradford 31 5 University of Brighton 34 42 University of Bristol 11 9 University of Buckingham 1 — University of Central England — 1 University of Cambridge 17 — University of Central Lancashire 35 7 University of Chester 5 1 University of Chichester 5 — University of Cumbria 9 — University of Derby 19 28 University of Durham 16 — University of East Anglia 4 — University of East London 29 7 University of Edinburgh 4 — University of Essex 12 2 University of Exeter 14 6 University of Exeter (Cornwall) — 1 University of Glamorgan 10 2 University of Glasgow 7 — University of Gloucestershire 6 7 University of Greenwich 62 17 University of Hertfordshire 40 52 University of Huddersfield 24 4 University of Hull 46 4 University of Kent 35 14 University of Leeds 60 38 University of Leicester 15 4 University of Lincoln 80 36 University of Liverpool 37 20 University of London 10 3 University of Manchester 69 58 University of Northampton 9 — University of Northumbria at Newcastle 8 2 University of Nottingham 31 17 University of Oxford 21 3 University of Plymouth 36 18 University of Portsmouth 40 18 University of Reading 17 16 University of Salford 44 18 University of Sheffield 42 12 University of Southampton 12 4 University of St. Andrews 3 1 University of Stirling 1 — University of Strathclyde 3 1 University of Sunderland 7 — University of Surrey—Guildford 12 71 University of Sussex 13 8 University of Teesside 4 2 University of the Arts—Chelsea College of Arts and Design — 1 University of the Arts—Camberwell College of the Arts 4 — University of the Arts—Central St. Martins 10 — University of the Arts—London College of Fashion 6 — University of the Arts—London School of Communications 12 5 University of the Arts London 10 2 University of the Arts of London 1 1 University of the West of England 60 9 University of Ulster 1 — University of Wales Institute, Cardiff 12 2 University of Warwick 22 8 University of Westminster 34 20 University of Wolverhampton 49 37 University of York 26 25 Worcester, University College 3 2 York St. John University 11 1 Registrations where home university and graduate or student status is unknown 2,539
The total number of unique visitors to the Flying Start—Make it Happen website since it was launched on 24 September 2009 is 23,863. The figures by month are:
Number 2009 September 3,376 October 7,551 November 6,481 December 2,212 2010 January 2,912 February 1,330
The total spend to date on the Flying Start—Make it Happen programme is £350,000. This is broken down as follows:
£68,000 for the Make it Happen days and programmes;
£69,000 for the creation and maintenance of the Make it Happen Website; and
£213,000 for other activities.
1,570 people have begun a Flying Start—Make it Happen self-employment/business start-up programme.
Innovation: Finance
[holding answer 3 March 2010]: The following received funding in 2008/09 from the “other innovation programmes” budget, referred to in Table 11 of the 2009 Departmental Report:
£ million Expenditure on National Measurement System Programmes 62 Depreciation and capital costs associated with the National Weights and Measurements laboratory site 12 Capital Expenditure on National Weights and Measurements laboratory site 12 British Standards Institute and UK Accreditation Service programmes 6 DIUS/Technology Strategy Board collaborative activities 3 Dividend received from Intellectual Property Office -7 Intellectual Property Office cost of capital 3 Total 91
Music
This Department conducted a review of copyright last year. The resulting strategy: ‘Copyright—the way ahead: A Strategy for Copyright in the Digital Age’ was published in October 2009. It can be found at:
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/c-strategy-digitalage.pdf
This covered copyright issues relating to a range of creative industries, including the music industry, and made a number of commitments which we are working to deliver. These include measures in the Digital Economy Bill to combat online infringement of copyright.
The music industry is of course an integral part of the creative economy, for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has responsibility. DCMS works closely with the music industry on a wide range of issues and, among other things, is setting up a number of community music rehearsal spaces around England in order to encourage and develop grass-roots talent. ‘Creative Britain—New Talents for the New Economy’, published in February 2008, and ‘Digital Britain’, published in June 2009, set the strategic direction for the Government's work to support the creative and digital sectors respectively and a programme of work in these areas is ongoing.
Photographs: Copyright
[holding answer 4 March 2010]: I have recently received a number of representations from photographers about Clause 42 of the Digital Economy Bill which covers the treatment of Orphan Works and Extended Licensing. Some of these have also referred to the question of attribution.
UK law provides certain “moral rights”, including that photographers and creators of other works may assert their right to be identified as the author when their work is used for certain purposes. There are, however, a number of exceptions including where a work is intended for use in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical. I am aware that some photographers would like to see the law changed to require attribution in all cases.
As my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Postal Affairs and Employment Relations explained in the debates on the Digital Economy Bill, the Government have noted the concerns of creators (including photographers) and will be keeping the issue under review. The Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property is already looking at the broader issue of moral rights.
Royal Mail
I have asked Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail, to respond directly to the hon. Member as Royal Mail management has responsibility for the company's operations. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mail volumes continue to decline, by 8 per cent. in the first half of the financial year (April to Sept 2009), due to increased use of digital methods of communication. It is vitally important that Royal Mail can structure its operations as efficiently as possible so that it can compete in a competitive communications market while continuing to maintain the universal postal service at affordable prices. Royal Mail and the CWU are currently discussing a wide ranging agreement covering modernisation of the postal network.
Students: Loans
The available information is shown in the table. Figures reflect the year in which the processing of the write-off took place and not necessarily the year in which the circumstances surrounding the write-off occurred.
Financial year 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-094 Cancelled or written-off2 800 1,600 3,300 4,600 6,300 of which: because of bankruptcy3 — — — 500 900 on completion of IVA3 — — — 100 100 — = nil or negligible 1 The table shows the financial year in which the cancellation or write-off action was processed. The total includes both Mortgage Style and Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) borrowers. 2 The functionality for processing cancellation of IC loans due to death and disability was put in place in 2008-09. Some write-offs due to death or disability were processed manually in earlier years, but a number of such write-offs dating back to previous years were processed in 2008-09 and are included in this figure. 3 The functionality for processing write-offs due to bankruptcy and on completion of an IVA was put in place in 2007-08. Some write-offs due to bankruptcy or IVAs were processed manually in earlier years, but a number of such write-offs dating back to previous financial years were processed in 2007-08 and 2008-09 and are included in figures for those years. 4 Provisional Source: Student Loans Company
The number of student loan borrowers has increased each year since loans were introduced in 1990, and it is therefore expected that the number of loans cancelled or written-off will increase annually.
Student loans have been exempt from bankruptcy arrangements since 2004, therefore the figures provided for write-offs due to bankruptcy in 2007-08 and 2008-09 all relate to bankruptcy in earlier years. The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 contains the provision to exclude student loans from Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs).
Technology Strategy Board
Since it was established in July 2007 the Technology Strategy Board has provided grant funding to companies and collaborative R and D projects, and to knowledge transfer partnership projects.
A copy of the tables will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Politics and Government
I have been asked to reply.
Both the UK and Afghan Governments are party to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) which defines corruption as;
(a) the promise, offering or giving to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties;
(b) the solicitation or acceptance by a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties.
HMG officials based in Kabul and Lashkar Gah include Governance and Rule of Law advisers, who are able to identify and advise on how to tackle corruption. The UK government also provides annual guidance to all embassies and overseas offices on reporting suspected corruption.
Arms Control
We have made very good progress in securing overwhelming global support to start formal negotiations on an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in the UN in July this year. These negotiations will continue through 2011 and culminate in a UN Conference in 2012. We would hope to lay a text before the House following this.
We maintain a regular dialogue with a large number of states in support of the UN ATT process, and with a wide range of UK stakeholders. We have not had discussions with Shorts Bombardier, but we are pleased to be working closely with the UK defence industry trade associations to ensure there is no unintended impact on the legitimate trade in arms.
British Indian Ocean Territory: Environment Protection
During the 14 January meeting the delegations discussed the latest legal and policy developments relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago. Both delegations set out their respective positions on sovereignty and the UK also set out how the UK needed to bear in mind its treaty obligations with the US and our ongoing need of the British Indian Ocean Territory for defence purposes. There was mutual discussion of fishing rights, environmental concerns, the continental shelf and future visits to the Territory by Chagossians.
During the 21 July meeting both delegations reiterated their respective positions on sovereignty and resettlement as expressed at the first round of talks held in London on 14 January. The delegations agreed on the desirability of a co-ordinated submission to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for an extended continental shelf in the Chagos Archipelago/BIOT region. A joint technical team would be set up with officials from both sides to look into the possibilities of a co-ordinated response. The UK delegation proposed that consideration be given to the possible creation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), which the Mauritians agreed in principle. The UK delegation agreed to examine the Mauritian proposal to set up a mechanism to look into the joint issuing of fishing licences for BIOT waters, and stated that such examination would also include consideration of the implications of the proposed MPA.
UK relations with Mauritius are broad and deep, with regular contacts at all levels. The UK is Mauritius’ largest trade partner and second largest tourism market. The UK and Mauritius have many shared international priorities and, subject to regional voting constraints, the UK and Mauritian Governments frequently take the same positions in international fora. Within regional blocs, such as the African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), Mauritius is often a voice supporting UK aims. The Government also supports, through the EU, structural adjustment of the Mauritian economy to cope with the loss of sugar preferences. The UK will continue to develop this relationship—later in the year, we will be marking the 200th Anniversary of UK involvement in Mauritius. More immediately, the Privy Council will hold their second sitting in Mauritius this April.
Members: Correspondence
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office transferred the hon. Member for Walsall North’s letter of 3 February to the Department for International Development (DfID) for reply. I understand that DfID replied on 3 March.
Middle East: Armed Conflict
The UK Government have no plans to make such an assessment. Given current circumstances in Gaza, it would not be possible to gather the necessary data.
Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has undertaken extensive activity across these eight areas in collaboration with its global network of posts and other Government Departments, principally the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (previously the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and the Agencies. The information requested is not immediately available and compilation could be attempted only at disproportionate cost.
Rwanda: Politics and Government
[holding answer 1 March 2010]: Our high commission in Kigali is in regular contact with the full spectrum of political opinion in Rwanda, including Mme Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza. We are aware of reports stating that Mme Ingabire was involved in an altercation on 3 February when she attended a registration office in Kigali to obtain her identity card. The circumstances are disputed, but Mme Ingabire was not herself harmed, although her driver was attacked by unknown assailants.
We are aware of reports of opposition parties facing difficulties registering prior to the elections. In this context, we meet regularly with political parties, including Government and opposition parties. We continue to engage with the Government of Rwanda, both with Ministers and with the National Election Commission, on the issues of registration and functioning of political parties, as well as the wider matter of extending political space in Rwanda, particularly with regard to the elections in August this year.
We continue to support political and media freedom in Rwanda and we engage regularly, both bilaterally and with our EU partners, to ensure that the Rwandan Government respects these issues.
Justice
Departmental Paper
The Ministry of Justice currently use Banner Business Supplies Limited for all office paper and paper products that fall under the office stationery category. During 2008/09 Banner was the sole provider for all the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) paper based products and Office Depot were the main provider for all Wider Ministry of Justice paper based products.
The wider Ministry of Justice did not collate this information centrally before 2009. However, a new procurement system has been established that will enable more data to be captured and maintained. Implementation is due to complete shortly with information being available in the second quarter of 2010.
The following table shows the brands, size, weight, recycled content and volume purchased for paper only and refer solely to NOMS. The Information requested for paper products are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Brand of Paper Product Size Weight Recycled content (percentage) Volume purchased (reams) 2008-09 Supplier Own Brand Paper A3 80gsm 1— 10 Supplier Own Brand Paper A4 80gsm 1— 9,190 EP4 Paper A3 80gsm 80 7,400 EP4 Paper A4 80gsm 80 551,045 Evolve Paper A4 80gsm 100 812 Evolve Paper A4 100gsm 100 — Steinbeis Paper A4 80gsm 100 540 Conqueror Paper A4 100gsm n/a — Duplicating Coloured Paper A4 80gsm n/a 3,198 Index Card Index Card A4 150gsm n/a 134 Proprietary Coloured Card A4 200mu 1— 127 Xerox Paper A3 100gsm 1— — Xerox Paper A3 160gsm 1— 15 Xerox Coloured Card A4 120gsm 1— 165 Xerox Paper A4 160gsm 1— 2,205 Xerox Coloured Card A4 160gsm 1— 1,620 Xerox Paper A4 80gsm 1— 245 Xerox Coloured Paper A4 80gsm 1— 11,303 Xerox Paper A5 80gsm 1— 1,280 1 Farmed from sustainable sources.
Prison industries provide a printing solution for the MoJ which also provides constructive employment for inmates. The information requested for recycled content is not held centrally and could be provided only as disproportionate cost.
Brand of paper Product Item description Size (A3/a4) Recycled content (percentage) Quantity Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Yellow (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 35 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 120 gsm Colotech+ Silk (250 Sheets per Pack - 6 Packs per box) SRA3 — 128 Xerox Paper 100g Colotech Mattor Silk SRA3 Paper 6 packs of 500 sheets = 3,000 sheets required SRA3 — 6 Xerox Paper 100gColotech Matt or Silk SRA3 Paper 2 packs of 500 sheets = 1,000 sheets required. SRA3 — 2 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Dark Red (Box of 2500 Sheets) A4 — 45 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Lilac (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 7 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Pink (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 18 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Yellow (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 71 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Salmon (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Orange (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 — 121 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Blue (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 15 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Pink (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 3 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A3 80 gsm Recycled+ (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 80 546 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A4 80 gsm Recycled+ (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 80 5,290 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A4 80 gsm Recycled+ (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 80 1,053 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A4 80 gsm Recycled Supreme (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 80 525 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A3 80 gsm Recycled Supreme (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 80 255 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A3 80 gsm Recycled + (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A3 80 109 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A4 80 gsm Recycled Supreme (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 80 30 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Yellow (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 14 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Blue (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 16 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Ivory (250 Sheets per Ream - 5 Packs per box) A4 — 35 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Dark Yellow (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 — 158 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Lilac (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 55 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Orange (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Mid Blue (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 — 35 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Mid Grey (500 A4 — 5 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) — Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Gold (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 — 21 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Green (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 10 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Orange (250 Sheets per Ream - 5 Packs per box) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Gold (250 Sheets per Ream - 5 Packs per box) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Yellow (250 Sheets per Ream - 5 Packs per box) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Ivory (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 220 gsm Colotech+ (Box of 750 Sheets) SRA3 — 4 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Mid Grey (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 1 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Dark Blue (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A3 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Mid Grey (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A3 — 2 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Dark Red (250 Sheets per Ream - 5 Packs per box) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Green (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 107 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 280 gsm Colotech+Silk (125 Sheets per Pack – 5 Packs per box) SRA3 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Dark Green (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Mid Grey (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 6 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Mid Green (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 — 10 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Dark Yellow (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 8 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 220 gsm Colotech+ (250 Sheets per Pack - 3 Packs per box) SRA3 — 7 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Dark Yellow (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 7 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Mid Pink (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 2 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 120 gsm Colotech+ Silk (Box of 1,500 Sheets) SRA3 — 25 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 250 gsm Colotech+ Silk (Box of 625 Sheets) SRA3 — 1 Xerox Paper 100gColotechMatt 8 packs of 500 sheets = 4,000 sheets required. SRA3 — 8 Xerox Paper 100g ColotechSRA3 White Paper (500 sheets per ream ) 3 reams per box . SRA3 — 8 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 160 gsm Colotech+ (200 Sheets per Pack - 4 Packs per box) SRA3 — 12 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Dark Blue (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A4 — 4 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Buttercup (500 Sheets per Ream – 5 Reams per box) A3 — 30 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 160 gsm Colotech+ (Box of 800 Sheets) SRA3 21 Xerox Cartridge Xerox Magenta cartridge -106R00654 Cartridge — 1 Xerox Label Laser Labels 003R96169 Label — 1 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 140 gsm Colotech+ Gloss (250 Sheets per Pack - 5 Packs per box) SRA3 80 5 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 80 gsm Dark Green (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A4 — 10 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Dark Green (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 1 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Mid Grey (250 Sheets per Ream - 5 Packs per box) A4 — 205 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 140 gsm Colotech+ Gloss (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 13 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Pink (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 55 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Salmon (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 54 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Blue (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 69 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Ivory (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 168 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Mid Blue (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box A3 — 23 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Mid Green (500 Sheets per Ream – 5 Reams per box) A3 — 33 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Mid Pink (500 Sheets per Ream - 5 Reams per box) A3 — 48 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Pink (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A3 — 12 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 280 gsm Colotech+ Silk (Box of 625 Sheets) SRA3 — 6 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White A3 80 gsm Recycled Supreme (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A3 80 22 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper White SRA3 120 gsm Colotech+ Gloss (Box of 1,500 Sheets) SRA3 — 12 Xerox Label boxes 003R91224 peel off labels 99.1 x 67.7 100 sheets per box (800 labels) Label — 120 Xerox Paper 003R97608 A3 Colotech+ Silk white 280gsm A3 — 6 Xerox Paper 003R99077 Pink carbonless CF paper A4 — 30 Xerox Label 003R96289 68.1 x99.1 labels x 14 per sheet 100 sheets per box Label — 40 Xerox Label 003R91224 white labels 8 per sheet 100 per box Label — 20 Xerox Paper 003R97959A3x120grm Colotech A3 — 32 Xerox Paper 003R97977 Colotec +250grm SRA3 SRA3 — 18 Xerox Paper 003R97955 A3 Colotech+ white 100gsm A3 — 40 Xerox Paper 003R97956 SRA3 Colotech+ white 100gsm A3 — 40 Xerox Paper reams 003R97955 A3 colotech+white 100gsm A3 — 50 Xerox Paper 003R97955 reams A3 colotech+ white 100 grms A3 — 96 Xerox Paper 003R97972 reams A3 colotech+ white 220 grms A3 — 24 Xerox Paper 003R98105 reams A3 Xerox recycled pure white paper A3 — 200 Xerox Paper ream003R93217 Symphony A4 120grm Ivory A4 — 20 Xerox Paper 003R97608 A3 280grm A3 — 30 Colotech Silk White — Xerox Paper 003R97972 A3 220grm Colotech+ White A3 — 24 Xerox Paper 003R97513SRA3 Polyolefin Durapaper 255grmx600 SRA3 — 6 Xerox Paper 003R97955 Symphony 80grms A3 green A3 — 30 Xerox Paper 003R97956 Colotech 100grms SRA3 white SRA3 — 48 Xerox Paper 023R02174 Poster paper 120grms 1067x30 mtrs A4 — 6 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Dark Red (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 3 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Dark Blue (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A3 — 1 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A3 80 gsm Dark Green (Box of 2,500 Sheets) A3 — 1 Xerox Paper Xerox Printing Paper Symphony Tint A4 160 gsm Mid Green (Box of 1,250 Sheets) A4 — 3
Driving Offences
The available information is provided in the following table.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 404 Causing death by dangerous driving1 Total fined 9 6 4 4 6 1 3 1 2 3 3 Average fine (£) 620.0 1958.3 425.0 562.5 750.0 1200.0 3833.3 300.0 625.0 1250.0 1133.3 Total given immediate custody4 169 136 166 193 199 217 221 238 210 214 206 ACSL 38.0 34.3 37.1 39.0 39.2 43.0 44.4 44.8 43.7 44.1 48.8 Total sentenced 203 173 193 226 228 233 241 254 223 233 221 406 Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs Total fined 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 Average fine (£) 200.0 — — 500.0 — — — 1000.0 — 1500.0 — Total given immediate custody 58 45 49 48 61 58 59 62 64 65 45 ACSL 37.1 41.7 38.3 43.4 40.9 44.0 43.4 42.4 40.8 39.2 46.6 Total sentenced 63 46 53 51 66 60 62 66 65 67 46 408 Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving5 Total fined — — — — — — — — — — 4 Average fine (£) — — — — — — — — — — 875.0 Total given immediate custody — — — — — — — — — — 0 ACSL — — — — — — — — — — 0 Total sentenced — — — — — — — — — — 4 409 Causing death by driving—unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers6 Total fined — — — — — — — — — — 0 Average fine (£) — — — — — — — — — — 0 Total given immediate custody — — — — — — — — — — 0 ACSL — — — — — — — — — — 0 Total sentenced — — — — — — — — — — 0 804 Causing bodily harm by furious driving2 Total fined 3 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 Average fine (£) 650.0 — 400.0 — 250.0 375.0 — 250.0 — — — Total given immediate custody 1 6 5 4 8 5 7 2 4 0 4 ACSL 6.0 7.5 11.6 11.5 8.7 14.4 11.5 11.0 9.5 — 11.2 Total sentenced 9 11 12 7 13 11 13 8 7 5 11 3701 Aggravated taking where, owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurs causing the death of any person3 Total fined 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Average fine (£) — — 250.0 — — — — — — — — Total given immediate custody 12 3 8 8 8 11 8 8 6 8 4 ACSL 36.6 34.9 36.5 39.0 38.3 42.0 42.7 43.5 42.1 42.1 47.5 Total sentenced 19 7 11 11 11 14 11 23 11 18 4 1 Road Traffic Act 1988. 2 Offences against the Person Act 1861. 3 Theft Act 1968 as added by Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992. 4 Excludes life and indeterminate sentences. 5 408 Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving, (Road Traffic Act 1988 s.2B was added by the Road Safety Act 2006) commenced in August 2008. 6 409 Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers, (Road Traffic Act 1988 S.3ZB was added by the Road Safety Act 2006) commenced in August 2008. Note: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2. These data have been taken from the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings database. These data are presented on the principal offence basis. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed. Where the same sentence has been imposed for two or more offences the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.
(2) how many people in each age group have been convicted of causing death or bodily harm through driving in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of those convicted were repeat offenders.
The number of persons found guilty at all courts in England and Wales of dangerous driving, by police force area, from 1999 to 2008 (latest available) is shown in table 1. These figures have been drawn from the Court Proceedings Database.
The proportion of convictions for dangerous driving where the offender had a previous conviction for dangerous driving, as recorded on the Police National Computer, by police force area, from 2000 to 2008 is given in table 2.
The figures in this table are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police. PNC data have been used for this table rather than the court proceedings data that forms the source of the published conviction statistics, as the PNC provides information on the criminal history of offenders. Figures prior to 2000 are not available.
The number of persons on the Court Proceedings Database found guilty at all courts in England and Wales of causing death or bodily harm through driving, by age group and police force area (which is the smallest geographic area for which statistics are available), from 1999 to 2008 can be found in tables 3A and 3B.
Figures taken from the Police National Computer show that between 2000 and 2008 three offenders were convicted for an offence of causing death or bodily harm through driving having been convicted previously for a similar offence.
Court proceedings data for 2009 are planned to be published in the autumn 2010.
Police force area 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20083 Avon and Somerset 115 117 110 142 164 169 153 114 116 93 Bedfordshire 27 28 36 38 54 36 43 44 40 55 Cambridgeshire 77 61 67 74 95 78 72 77 52 50 Cheshire 80 83 79 77 97 104 70 84 72 59 City of London 3 4 8 9 6 8 7 4 2 1 Cleveland 66 57 72 82 79 101 72 66 63 56 Cumbria 52 54 48 62 79 72 63 59 88 63 Derbyshire 86 88 95 107 105 108 58 60 65 54 Devon and Cornwall 75 63 78 78 85 75 67 52 57 54 Dorset 15 24 36 37 52 50 44 23 34 23 Durham 49 49 62 66 85 89 55 61 44 35 Essex 94 74 69 95 99 104 89 76 91 63 Gloucestershire 48 54 49 45 52 52 56 34 29 34 Greater Manchester 330 368 315 390 433 427 328 292 281 225 Hampshire 134 158 158 158 144 130 113 95 104 108 Hertfordshire 36 47 37 53 71 69 73 76 56 40 Humberside 67 79 82 75 103 91 79 94 79 80 Kent 66 62 66 93 116 94 93 91 76 76 Lancashire 129 138 120 156 147 132 117 135 126 87 Leicestershire 75 97 121 114 126 118 87 61 53 60 Lincolnshire 45 39 41 45 49 44 33 36 33 32 Merseyside 112 99 126 122 169 243 233 152 189 128 Metropolitan police 317 359 390 446 562 570 515 475 442 396 Norfolk 47 31 32 59 67 60 56 59 72 36 North Yorkshire 64 61 60 77 65 70 63 73 66 63 Northamptonshire 64 56 27 32 36 77 46 50 43 52 Northumbria 227 185 196 193 187 191 170 171 157 123 Nottinghamshire 101 118 125 148 218 167 128 103 93 95 South Yorkshire 121 165 116 143 194 149 126 121 115 114 Staffordshire 61 49 66 81 75 65 70 107 62 85 Suffolk 54 43 50 60 50 51 42 36 67 54 Surrey 23 29 25 42 50 33 26 23 35 25 Sussex 71 56 82 75 65 64 83 66 61 54 Thames Valley 81 98 105 150 129 115 129 125 147 121 Warwickshire 36 28 29 35 40 33 63 63 51 43 West Mercia 111 72 78 106 108 102 117 104 89 92 West Midlands 231 289 349 451 448 488 397 413 320 272 West Yorkshire 205 186 162 247 278 279 249 178 216 183 Wiltshire 38 48 40 49 53 43 45 34 31 23 Dyfed-Powys 62 53 37 59 52 58 39 46 42 35 Gwent 86 95 64 86 95 79 84 68 60 44 North Wales 57 54 63 52 71 85 74 63 63 55 South Wales 170 172 203 206 198 187 168 150 136 93 Total England and Wales 4,008 4,090 4,174 4,915 5,451 5,360 4,695 4,314 4,118 3,534 1 Includes offences of aiding, abetting, causing or permitting reckless driving under the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.2 as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 s.2. 2 The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice.
Percentage Police force 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Avon and Somerset 21 19 22 27 22 18 19 15 18 Bedfordshire * * * 14 * * 14 * 19 Cambridgeshire 10 11 14 12 13 14 7 * * Cheshire 5 7 8 11 10 16 9 10 6 City of London * * * * * * * * * Cleveland 12 15 12 14 18 19 19 13 16 Cumbria 9 * 12 13 19 15 10 11 12 Derbyshire 11 9 13 11 13 11 13 16 13 Devon and Cornwall 16 6 17 11 15 4 11 14 14 Dorset * * * * * * * * * Durham * * 21 16 18 16 12 * * Dyfed-Powys * * 12 * 5 * * * * Essex 15 6 4 8 8 10 6 7 18 Gloucestershire 12 * * 27 19 * * * * Greater Manchester 11 14 19 18 14 22 18 15 14 Gwent 18 20 20 17 17 25 16 10 12 Hampshire 10 8 16 11 12 11 11 6 7 Hertfordshire * * 11 15 9 3 11 12 * Humberside 9 17 13 14 13 15 26 9 25 Kent 19 8 9 9 10 11 9 13 12 Lancashire 11 10 10 14 12 9 12 11 11 Leicestershire 18 13 13 15 16 13 22 19 14 Lincolnshire * * * * * * * * * Merseyside 16 11 17 14 13 16 17 11 9 Metropolitan police 9 11 10 8 11 9 10 12 11 Norfolk * * 10 13 14 * 11 8 * North Wales 9 10 11 11 14 9 9 13 11 North Yorkshire 2 9 11 15 12 8 14 11 10 Northamptonshire 10 * 13 14 14 * * 10 * Northumbria 16 23 19 24 18 18 15 19 13 Nottinghamshire 11 17 15 19 18 19 11 26 11 South Wales 20 24 23 22 22 22 27 24 21 South Yorkshire 8 11 14 15 13 9 19 19 15 Staffordshire 9 13 6 13 18 4 12 10 11 Suffolk * * 10 14 * * * 0 9 Surrey * * * * * * * * * Sussex * 13 6 13 17 9 7 14 10 Thames Valley 6 5 18 11 14 8 14 10 10 Warwickshire * * * * * 9 10 9 * West Mercia 8 7 7 8 10 9 5 8 6 West Midlands 13 8 11 13 11 13 19 17 18 West Yorkshire 11 15 12 16 12 17 15 15 18 Wiltshire * * 12 * * * * * * Total 12 13 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 * Indicates that the total number of convictions recorded on the PNC was less than 50. For small numbers this could give misleading percentage changes. 1 As with any large scale recording system, the data are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services Ministry of Justice.
Police force area 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20083 Avon and Somerset 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 Bedfordshire 2 1 1 — 1 — 1 2 — 1 Cambridgeshire 1 — — 3 — 1 1 — 2 1 Cheshire 1 2 1 — 1 3 5 3 — — Cleveland — 2 — 1 — — 3 2 2 — Cumbria — — 1 2 1 1 3 — 2 — Derbyshire 3 1 — 1 1 1 1 — 2 1 Devon and Cornwall 2 1 3 1 1 1 10 1 7 2 Dorset — 2 1 1 1 — — 2 2 — Durham 1 — 1 1 3 4 1 — 1 — Essex — 2 2 4 — 2 1 1 2 4 Gloucestershire 2 — 1 — 3 1 — 2 1 1 Greater Manchester 1 7 6 1 9 6 5 3 5 — Hampshire 1 1 1 1 — 1 2 4 2 — Hertfordshire 2 1 — — 3 2 — — 1 3 Humberside 1 5 1 — 2 1 1 1 1 — Kent 1 — 1 1 2 1 — 2 3 — Lancashire — 3 1 2 3 3 2 1 2 1 Leicestershire 1 — 3 — 2 3 4 — 1 2 Lincolnshire 1 — 1 — 2 1 — 2 1 1 Merseyside 3 3 7 5 7 4 1 9 4 — Metropolitan police 5 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 3 5 Norfolk — 1 2 2 2 — — 3 2 — North Yorkshire — 3 2 2 1 1 — 3 3 2 Northamptonshire — — 2 1 — 2 3 2 — 1 Northumbria — 1 2 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 Nottinghamshire 1 — — 3 2 1 3 4 — — South Yorkshire 3 — 2 3 1 4 8 5 — — Staffordshire 2 1 1 1 — 7 — 3 1 — Suffolk — 1 1 — 1 — — — — — Surrey — 2 — — — 1 1 1 2 1 Sussex 4 3 3 — — — 3 — 1 3 Thames Valley 1 5 5 5 3 4 — 3 4 4 Warwickshire 1 1 1 3 — — — 2 — 2 West Mercia 2 — 1 1 1 1 3 3 4 2 West Midlands 4 4 6 8 4 5 6 6 5 3 West Yorkshire 1 3 7 5 6 2 10 5 — 5 Wiltshire 1 — — — — — — 1 — 1 Dyfed-Powys 1 — — — 3 1 — 1 — 1 Gwent 2 2 1 1 1 — 1 — 1 — North Wales 1 1 — — — — 2 1 — — South Wales 4 1 1 3 — 4 1 4 2 — Total England and Wales 58 68 78 73 77 80 91 92 71 49 1 Includes offences of: Causing death by dangerous driving; Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs; Causing death by driving—unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers; Causing bodily harm by furious driving; Aggravated taking of a vehicle where, owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurs causing the death of any person. 2 The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice.
Police force area 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Avon and Somerset 4 5 5 11 10 8 6 4 2 4 Bedfordshire 1 4 2 8 6 2 4 1 3 3 Cambridgeshire 4 10 4 5 9 5 3 8 5 7 Cheshire 6 7 3 5 4 3 3 3 2 4 City of London — — — — — 1 — — — — Cleveland 1 3 2 2 3 5 4 1 1 4 Cumbria 2 2 4 5 2 7 4 5 5 2 Derbyshire 3 4 3 3 10 4 4 3 2 2 Devon and Cornwall 4 3 5 2 4 4 10 4 6 8 Dorset 1 — 4 2 2 3 3 1 1 — Durham 2 1 1 4 2 6 8 — — 1 Essex 4 1 8 10 6 3 8 4 6 5 Gloucestershire — 4 4 3 1 5 4 2 3 1 Greater Manchester 8 17 14 22 11 14 11 5 7 17 Hampshire 5 9 6 4 7 3 4 5 8 9 Hertfordshire 3 2 7 5 4 3 4 2 4 5 Humberside 7 2 5 2 7 7 10 7 6 5 Kent 8 5 5 10 2 6 9 7 6 10 Lancashire 4 1 6 5 3 9 6 3 10 9 Leicestershire 5 5 6 3 5 7 4 2 11 4 Lincolnshire 5 5 6 4 8 10 2 5 2 9 Merseyside 1 3 8 5 5 10 5 4 5 2 Metropolitan police 23 19 21 24 28 23 25 24 26 24 Norfolk 2 2 2 4 3 2 3 4 3 4 North Yorkshire 1 6 3 4 3 8 10 5 10 4 Northamptonshire 2 5 3 4 2 4 6 7 6 8 Northumbria 5 5 4 6 8 8 7 6 6 4 Nottinghamshire 4 — 5 5 7 9 5 2 6 3 South Yorkshire 2 5 4 7 5 9 3 3 5 7 Staffordshire 1 2 2 6 7 4 7 5 8 6 Suffolk — 1 3 3 1 2 3 4 4 2 Surrey 2 2 2 4 3 — 2 3 8 2 Sussex 6 4 2 6 3 6 4 12 7 5 Thames Valley 10 11 12 7 11 8 12 17 20 12 Warwickshire — 1 6 3 2 2 5 2 4 1 West Mercia 7 4 7 5 4 9 5 4 7 5 West Midlands 6 12 14 7 9 10 10 10 8 6 West Yorkshire 7 8 11 13 11 11 16 15 13 13 Wiltshire 6 3 5 2 5 1 6 1 3 4 Dyfed-Powys 2 6 — 1 — 1 2 1 4 2 Gwent 1 4 2 2 4 — 6 — 1 4 North Wales 3 — 1 2 4 1 4 4 4 7 South Wales 11 9 4 9 9 4 3 7 5 4 Total England and Wales 179 202 221 244 240 247 260 212 253 238 1 Includes offences of: Causing death by dangerous driving; Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs; Causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving; Causing bodily harm by furious driving; Aggravated taking of a vehicle where, owing to the driving of the vehicle, an accident occurs causing the death of any person. 2 The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 3 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 4 Excludes convictions for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice.
General Election 2010: Poole
The acting returning officer for Poole has provided the Ministry of Justice with helpful information on the practical issues surrounding the timing of the count at the next UK parliamentary general election.
This information along with the views received from other key stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission, Association of Electoral Administrators and SOLACE helped to inform the clause that was inserted into the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (‘CRaG Bill’), at Commons Report stage on 2 March which amends schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (the Parliamentary Elections Rules) to provide that a returning officer must take reasonable steps to begin counting the votes given on the ballot papers as soon as practicable within four hours of the close of poll. The clause also requires that:
(i) the Electoral Commission must produce guidance on this duty;
(ii) in instances where the count does not begin by 2 am, returning officers to publish and send to the Electoral Commission a statement within 30 days of the poll giving the time that the count began, explaining, why it did not begin before 2 am, and setting out the steps taken to begin the count by 2 am.
(iii) the Electoral Commission to list those constituencies that did not start the count before 2 am in its statutory report on the conduct of the election.
I am also aware that the acting returning officer for Poole has advised the Electoral Commission that he intends to commence the count on the night of the general election poll.
Grimsby
The Ministry of Justice's work spans criminal, civil and family justice, democracy, rights and the constitution. Every year around 9 million people use our services in 900 locations across the United Kingdom, including 650 courts and tribunals and 139 prisons in England and Wales.
The range of the Department's policies and actions is wide and the statistical information relating to it is not normally collected on a constituency basis. Consequently, some of the information requested in the question cannot be provided in the form requested except at a disproportionate cost.
Although data on sentencing for the period is not available for the constituency of Great Grimsby, it is available for Humberside. This shows the total number of offenders sentenced annually was 20,950 in 1997 and 14,569 in 2008, the latest period for which such information is available.
The number of offences brought to justice for the Humberside area increased from 18,497 for the 12 months ending 31 March 2001 (the earliest period since which such data has been compiled) to 26,584 (provisional figures) for the 12 months ending 31 March 2009.
With regard to prosecutions, data is not available for the constituency of Great Grimsby. However, the total number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts in Humberside was 26,798 in 1997 compared to 19,101 in 2008.
The latest data, which covers reoffending in the period 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009, showed that the three month reoffending rate for offenders on the probation caseload in North East Lincolnshire was 12.53 per cent. After controlling for changes in the characteristics of offenders on the probation caseload, there was an increase in reoffending of 1.26 per cent. compared to the 2007-08 baseline. Data is not available prior to 2007 on this basis.
The number of persons commencing court order supervision by the Probation Service in Humberside was 2,139 in 1997 and 3,450 in 2008.
56,172 civil non-family proceedings were started in the county courts of Humber and South Yorkshire HM Courts Service (HMCS) area in 2008, compared to 61,944 in 1998, the first year for which these figures are available. In respect of family law, there were also 4,803 private law applications and 303 public law applications made in the county or High Courts of this HMCS area in 2008-09, compared to 4,530 and 385 respectively in 2003-04, the first annual period for which these figures are available.
In addition, at a national level:
Local communities are being better engaged in criminal justice – by giving them a say in the types of community payback projects offenders carry out and allowing them to see justice being done, for example through the use of high visibility jackets. Offenders have now worked more than fourteen million hours, with an estimated value to the taxpayer of over £80 million.
Major constitutional reforms have been delivered, including devolution, the Human Rights Act, Freedom of Information, Lords Reform, and a new Supreme Court for the UK.
National Bullying Helpline
The Prison Service has national policies designed to keep prisoners, staff and visitors safe from bullying. These policies do not promote the National Bullying Helpline. Whether prisons locally or offices have ever had any contact with the National Bullying Helpline since 2004 could be known only by contacting each prison and office and asking them to check available information. This would incur disproportionate cost. According to information held centrally, no payments have been made to either the National Bullying Helpline or to HR and Diversity Management Limited.
Prisons: Databases
(2) what plans there are for the establishment of the Local Inmate Database System (LIDS); and what plans there are for the future of the national LIDS database.
The Prison Service Local Inmate Database System (LIDS) was introduced in 1989.
LIDS is being replaced by a new case management system, called Prison-NOMIS (Prison-National Offender Management Information System). Prison-NOMIS is a national system with a centralised database. It is on schedule to be deployed to public prisons by summer 2010.
Prisons: Drugs
(2) what recent assessment he has made of the level of serious organised crime activity in prisons.
Covert criminal activity is, of its nature, very difficult to quantify.
Prisons have a well established security information reporting framework. Where concerns are identified about a prisoner's potential criminal activity, prisons can draw on a range of measures to identify and disrupt that activity.
NOMS is also fully engaged in action to address serious and organised crime strategically, including the work identified in the Government report ”Extending Our Reach: A Comprehensive Approach to Tackling Serious Organised Crime” to develop a strategy to manage serious organised criminals while in prison.
Prisons: Females
(2) what assessment his Department undertook on the effect on women in prison of the removal of the semi-open category of prison.
On 11 February 2009 the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) announced the re-designation of both HMP Morton Hall and HMP/YOI Drake Hall from semi-open to closed prisons. There are no plans to change this decision.
The re-designation, which took effect on 2 March 2009, allowed NOMS to more effectively provide for the needs of all women prisoners through greater flexibility in the use of the estate. It has also improved closeness to home for some women, supported the placement of indeterminate sentenced women in accordance with their needs, and in general enabled more women to access the resettlement regimes available at these two prisons. There was no requirement to move any of the women out of either prison as a result of the change. Both establishments retained their levels of internal and perimeter security and their resettlement regimes, including their roles as specialist foreign national centres. Women suitable for open conditions are able to go these prisons if such a move meets their resettlement needs.
Prisons: Mobile Phones
The Government are committed to reducing the number of mobile phones in prisons. We have already strengthened the law through the Offender Management Act 2007, which made it an offence with a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment to bring a mobile phone or component into a prison. We are also taking forward legislation through the Crime and Security Bill to criminalise the possession of devices, including mobile telephones within a prison without authorisation.
The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) does not hold centrally disaggregated information on the location or ownership of phones seized. Many phones and component parts are not attributable to individuals. Prisons in England and Wales are instructed to send mobile phones and SIM cards found to a central unit for analysis, it is from this unit’s records that this answer is based. The figures contained in the tables have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing data, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. These data are not subject to audit.
The figures understate the actual number of finds, because they do not include items retained by the police for evidential purposes and phones not submitted for other reasons. It is not always appropriate to send phones to the central unit and some phones sent are not interrogated. These have not been included in these figures. NOMS is putting in place new procedures to improve the accuracy of these statistics.
Tackling mobile phones in prison presents substantial and increasing technological challenges, and while the numbers of phones found clearly indicates the scale of the challenge, it is also a reflection of prisons’ increasing success in finding them and better reporting. The following tables show the number of mobile phones and SIM cards that have been received from each of the prisons over the last 12 months.
High Security February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Belmarsh — — 1 — — — — — — — — — — 1 Full Sutton — — — 1 — — — 2 — — — — — — Frankland — 2 — — — — — — — — — — — — Long Lartin 6 2 1 1 — — 1 2 1 2 — 3 — — Manchester 6 6 3 3 8 6 12 15 1 1 5 4 1 2 Wakefield — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Woodhill — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Whitemoor — 1 2 2 — — 1 1 — 2 — — 1 1 Total 12 11 7 7 8 6 14 20 2 5 5 7 2 4
M S M S M S M S M S M S Belmarsh — — — — — — — 2 — — 1 3 Full Sutton — — — — — — — 2 1 1 1 6 Frankland — — — — — — — — — — 0 2 Long Lartin 1 1 1 1 1 1 — — 1 1 13 14 Manchester 5 1 1 6 — — 1 — 9 12 52 56 Wakefield — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Woodhill — — — — 1 1 1 1 — — 2 2 Whitemoor — — 1 2 — — 1 2 — — 6 11 Total 6 2 3 9 2 2 3 7 11 14 75 94
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Brixton 3 5 — — 25 23 1 1 7 6 3 2 — — Feltham — — 14 13 10 12 14 11 10 12 3 2 7 9 Holloway — — — — — — — — 3 4 — — — 1 Latchmere House — — — — — — 1 — 4 2 — — 1 — Pentonville — — — — 1 1 17 15 17 10 10 14 15 13 Wandsworth 2 3 8 7 9 12 — — — — 21 19 — 4 Wormwood Scrubs 3 4 8 7 14 9 8 12 8 6 5 6 13 11 Total 8 12 30 27 59 57 41 39 49 40 42 43 36 38
M S M S M S M S M S M S Brixton 2 2 14 12 4 4 2 6 9 9 70 70 Feltham 3 5 8 9 3 2 3 3 4 2 19 80 Holloway 1 1 1 2 2 — — 6 9 Latchmere House 2 2 2 3 5 1 1 18 6 Pentonville 10 11 21 18 16 14 17 19 9 5 133 120 Wandsworth — — 5 4 — — — — 3 1 48 50 Wormwood Scrubs 12 15 10 7 14 18 9 9 18 15 122 119 Total 30 34 60 51 39 41 38 39 44 33 476 453
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Cardiff 2 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 4 3 2 3 3 Swansea — — 1 2 3 3 — — 4 5 1 1 5 3 Usk/Prescoed — — — — 2 1 1 1 — — — — 1 — Parc — — — — — — 1 3 4 4 1 — 1 1 Total 2 3 3 4 6 5 3 5 11 13 5 3 10 7
M S M S M S M S M S M S Cardiff 1 1 5 3 1 1 4 6 2 3 28 30 Swansea 6 5 4 4 4 5 11 11 3 3 42 42 Usk/Prescoed — — — 1 — — 1 1 — — 5 4 Parc 1 2 — — 1 — 1 1 2 5 12 16 Total 8 8 9 8 6 6 17 19 7 11 87 92
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Albany — — — — 1 1 — — — — — — — — Aylesbury — — 1 2 2 6 1 2 2 2 12 11 — — Blantyre House — — — — — — 1 — — — 3 — 2 2 Bronzefield — — 3 4 — — — — — — 3 4 3 4 Bullingdon 1 — 4 3 2 2 4 5 4 2 — 1 1 1 Camp Hill 2 2 — — — — — — 1 — — — 2 3 Canterbury 1 5 1 1 — — 1 1 3 2 3 1 — — Coldingley — — — — — — — — 1 — — — 1 1 Cookham Wood — — — — 2 2 — — — — 1 2 — — Dover 3 1 — — 1 1 — — — — — — 8 5 Downview — — 1 2 — — — — — — — — — — East Sutton Park — — — — — — — — 1 1 — — — — Elmley 5 15 3 5 5 2 6 6 4 4 — 1 1 2 Ford — — 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 — — Grendon — — 1 1 18 9 — — — — — — — — Haslar — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Highdown 1 — 16 14 6 2 — — — — 5 4 5 4 Huntercombe — — 1 2 — — 2 4 — — 1 1 2 2 Kingston 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — — — Lewes — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Maidstone 3 3 2 2 — — — — 3 4 3 3 1 3 Parkhurst 1 1 2 6 1 1 2 — 2 1 2 3 2 1 Reading — — — 2 — — 2 1 — — 2 2 2 4 Rochester 1 1 5 6 — — — — — — — 3 — — Send — — — — — — 1 1 — — 2 3 — — Springhill 19 9 — — — — 5 3 8 5 8 6 1 1 Standford Hill 2 2 1 1 2 2 16 10 8 4 14 11 6 3 Swaleside 4 4 2 3 4 4 6 7 6 10 10 9 9 8 Winchester — — 3 2 1 3 — — — — 1 — — — Total 44 44 47 57 46 36 48 42 44 36 71 66 46 44
M S M S M S M S M S M S Albany — — — — — — — — — — 1 1 Aylesbury 8 7 — — 7 6 6 6 13 14 52 56 Blantyre House — — — — 4 — 2 — — — 12 2 Bronzefield 4 4 — — — — — — 2 3 15 19 Bullingdon 1 — 6 3 — — 3 2 2 3 28 22 Camp Hill — — — — — — — — 1 1 6 6 Canterbury 2 1 — — — — 1 1 2 1 14 13 Coldingley 3 4 4 5 1 — — — 1 1 11 11 Cookham Wood — — — — — — — — 1 1 4 5 Dover 2 — 6 4 5 1 9 5 4 2 38 19 Downview — — — — — — — — 1 1 2 3 East Sutton Park — — — — 1 2 — — — — 2 3 Elmley 4 7 2 2 1 1 4 5 1 2 36 52 Ford — — — — — 1 — — 1 1 6 8 Grendon — — — — — — — — — — 19 10 Haslar — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Highdown 4 3 2 1 — — 1 1 4 4 44 33 Huntercombe — — 1 1 — — — — — — 7 10 Kingston — — — — 1 — — — — — 2 1 Lewes — — — — 1 1 — — — — 1 1 Maidstone 5 6 5 9 — — 1 2 5 6 28 38 Parkhurst 10 9 4 6 — — — 2 — — 26 30 Reading 1 — — — — — 5 4 — — 12 13 Rochester — — — 1 2 3 1 3 1 1 10 18 Send — — 1 1 1 1 — — — — 5 6 Springhill — 1 2 1 — — 1 1 — 1 44 9 Standford Hill 6 5 7 6 18 11 4 2 5 5 89 62 Swaleside 4 5 6 6 6 11 7 5 8 5 72 77 Winchester 2 1 1 1 — — — — 2 3 10 10 Total 56 53 47 47 48 38 45 39 54 55 596 538
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Ashfield — — 1 2 — 1 6 6 1 1 — — 2 2 Bristol — — — — 3 3 10 8 6 6 7 9 3 3 Channings Wood 6 6 6 6 4 4 2 7 3 3 1 2 5 5 Dartmoor 2 — 8 6 1 1 9 8 3 3 4 5 3 1 Dorchester 1 1 — — 2 3 — — — — — — — — Eastwood Park 3 2 — — 1 2 — — — — — — 4 6 Erlestoke — — — — — — 1 — — — — — — — Exeter 3 3 — — 1 — 4 7 1 1 3 1 1 1 Gloucester 16 12 1 3 — — — — — — — — 1 1 Guys Marsh 3 1 — — 5 4 9 6 9 7 19 15 26 17 Leyhill — — — — — — — — 1 2 6 8 10 5 Portland — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Shepton Mallet — — 2 3 — — 1 1 3 1 — — 1 1 The Verne 1 3 3 3 1 2 5 4 3 2 3 2 — — Total 35 28 21 23 18 20 47 47 30 26 43 42 56 42
M S M S M S M S M S M S Ashfield — — 1 1 — — — — — — 11 13 Bristol 2 2 4 3 — — 1 — — — 36 34 Channings Wood — 6 2 2 — — 2 3 2 1 33 45 Dartmoor 3 1 3 2 3 1 6 5 3 3 48 36 Dorchester — — 1 — 1 1 3 2 — — 8 7 Eastwood Park 1 1 1 1 — — — — — 1 10 13 Erlestoke — — — — — — — — 1 1 2 1 Exeter 2 4 2 3 1 2 — — — — 18 22 Gloucester 3 3 2 1 1 — — 1 1 — 26 21 Guys Marsh 18 17 3 4 9 3 11 13 8 6 120 93 Leyhill — — 7 8 18 15 12 11 5 4 59 53 Portland — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Shepton Mallet 1 2 — — — — — — — — 8 8 The Verne 2 2 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 2 25 24 Total 32 38 28 27 36 23 37 36 21 18 404 370
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Bedford — — 4 2 — — 1 1 — — — 1 — — Blundeston 5 9 — 1 1 1 1 2 2 5 1 3 3 3 Bullwood Hall — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Chelmsford 3 4 — — — — 2 1 2 1 — 3 — — Edmunds Hill 1 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 2 1 5 5 Highpoint 16 10 6 3 3 3 5 5 1 1 3 6 2 4 Hollesley Bay 5 3 9 6 3 1 6 5 1 — 2 3 15 8 Littlehey 1 1 2 1 — — 1 — 1 — 1 3 — — The Mount — — 1 7 9 7 18 22 15 12 10 14 12 13 Norwich 2 3 1 1 1 4 7 8 2 — 3 3 1 1 Peterborough 2 2 13 11 1 1 4 9 6 5 6 9 10 12 Warren Hill — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Wayland 2 2 3 4 2 1 2 5 3 4 — 5 7 5 Total 37 35 42 39 21 21 48 61 35 29 28 51 55 51
M S M S M S M S M S M S Bedford — 1 2 2 — — — — — — 7 7 Blundeston 1 1 5 3 — — — — — 2 19 30 Bullwood Hall 1 1 — — — — — — — — 1 1 Chelmsford — — 1 — 1 — 2 1 3 3 14 13 Edmunds Hill 4 1 — — 2 — 1 — — 1 22 19 Highpoint 1 3 — — 1 2 2 2 3 3 43 42 Hollesley Bay 5 4 10 11 11 4 12 8 13 11 92 64 Littlehey — — — — — 2 — — — — 6 7 The Mount 8 7 12 11 3 5 5 3 8 8 101 109 Norwich — — — — — — — — — — 17 20 Peterborough 13 10 7 10 3 1 9 11 8 11 82 92 Warren Hill — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Wayland — — 6 6 1 3 — — 5 6 31 41 Total 33 28 43 43 22 17 31 25 40 45 435 445
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Ashwell 3 5 5 3 2 2 4 4 — 2 1 2 Fosten Hall — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Gartree — — 1 1 — — — — — — 1 9 1 1 Glen Parva — — 3 4 — — — — — — — — — — Leicester 2 3 1 1 3 2 5 4 7 6 7 10 6 5 Lincoln 1 — 1 2 4 7 2 5 1 2 4 3 1 Lowdham Grange 5 2 — — — — — — — — — — — — Morton Hall — — 2 2 — — — — — — — — — — North Sea Camp 2 1 3 6 3 — — — 3 4 4 7 3 1 Nottingham — 1 — 1 1 2 3 5 — 1 2 3 — — Onley 1 — 2 4 — — 1 — 2 — — — 1 1 Ranby 4 3 4 4 1 — — — 4 5 3 2 — — Rye Hill — 1 11 9 6 8 8 7 16 24 8 20 21 16 Stocken — — — — 5 5 1 — 1 1 — — 2 2 Sudbury — — — — — — — — — 1 — — — — Wellingborough 9 14 5 6 10 11 — 1 14 13 2 1 11 8 Whatton — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Total 27 30 38 43 35 37 20 22 52 61 31 57 47 36
M S M S M S M S M S M S Ashwell — 1 — — — — — — — 1 15 20 Fosten Hall — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Gartree 10 7 — — — — — — 2 1 15 19 Glen Parva 1 2 — — — — — — 1 1 5 7 Leicester 2 3 2 1 5 3 2 2 2 2 44 42 Lincoln 3 2 5 4 3 2 3 5 — — 28 32 Lowdham Grange — — — — — — — — — — 5 2 Morton Hall — — — — — — — — — — 2 2 North Sea Camp 1 — 5 8 3 3 3 3 2 2 32 35 Nottingham 3 3 — — — — 1 1 — 6 10 23 Onley 1 1 3 — — — — — — — 11 6 Ranby 5 4 — — — — — — — — 21 18 Rye Hill 8 5 7 8 6 10 4 3 5 5 100 116 Stocken 1 1 — 2 — — 6 8 1 2 17 21 Sudbury 1 — 1 — — — — — — — 2 1 Wellingborough — 1 10 15 10 6 10 11 10 13 91 100 Whatton — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Total 36 30 33 38 27 24 29 33 23 33 398 444
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Birmingham 5 9 4 6 2 — 5 7 4 1 6 6 12 8 Brinsford — — 1 4 1 1 3 3 2 2 8 7 6 4 Dovegate 3 3 2 1 2 — — — — — — 2 3 Drake Hall — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Featherstone 15 17 3 5 2 2 4 1 11 18 8 12 — 1 Hewell 4 5 1 2 10 10 2 7 8 10 9 14 12 12 Shrewsbury 1 2 1 — 1 — — — 1 1 — — 3 2 Stafford — — — — — 1 — — 1 — — 2 — — Stoke Heath 4 — 1 — 3 4 8 7 4 6 2 3 5 6 Swinfen Hall 3 3 4 2 2 1 1 1 6 5 5 4 2 4 Werrington — — — — — — — — 1 1 2 3 — — Total 35 39 15 21 22 21 23 26 38 44 40 51 42 40
M S M S M S M S M S M S Birmingham 5 9 11 9 10 11 6 9 16 15 86 90 Brinsford 1 1 3 5 4 1 4 2 3 3 36 33 Dovegate — — 13 14 2 5 6 8 3 4 30 41 Drake Hall — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Featherstone 5 3 — 2 1 5 2 3 1 — 52 69 Hewell 13 6 12 8 10 7 1 1 6 6 88 88 Shrewsbury — — 1 1 1 1 — 1 — — 9 8 Stafford 2 — 1 1 1 1 — — 2 — 7 5 Stoke Heath 4 1 1 3 1 1 2 2 — — 35 33 Swinfen Hall 1 1 1 3 1 — — 3 1 3 27 30 Werrington — — — — — — — — — — 3 4 Total 31 21 43 46 31 32 21 29 32 31 373 401
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Askham Grange — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Doncaster — — 1 1 — — — — 1 — — — — 1 Everthorpe 7 5 — — 12 11 — — 16 15 9 5 10 11 Hull 4 4 7 6 3 2 7 10 2 1 4 3 1 2 Leeds 4 7 10 11 3 7 4 1 7 7 2 1 2 — Lindholme — — — — 3 2 5 5 14 8 17 20 11 8 Moorland open — — 4 2 2 5 1 — — — — 1 2 1 Moorland closed 4 4 4 3 1 3 2 2 3 3 — — 2 2 New Hall — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Northallerton — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Wealstun — 1 6 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 5 — — Wetherby 1 1 — — — — — — — — — — 2 2 Wolds — — — — 2 1 9 10 5 6 — — 6 4 Total 20 22 32 30 27 32 29 29 49 41 34 35 36 31
M S M S M S M S M S M S Askham Grange — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Doncaster 2 2 6 1 1 2 1 1 1 8 13 Everthorpe — — — — — — — — — — 54 47 Hull — — — — — 4 — — — — 28 32 Leeds 5 11 1 2 4 5 2 4 1 2 45 58 Lindholme 11 9 9 8 5 9 7 4 15 9 97 82 Moorland open 1 3 3 1 5 2 4 5 2 — 23 18 Moorland closed 6 7 — — 1 1 — — 2 1 26 28 New Hall — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Northallerton — — 1 1 — — — — — — 1 1 Wealstun 4 5 1 1 3 3 1 2 — — 20 27 Wetherby — — 1 — — — 1 1 — — 5 4 Wolds 15 13 8 9 7 7 5 2 11 11 68 63 Total 44 50 24 28 26 32 22 19 32 24 375 373
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Altcourse 23 20 11 9 21 21 18 21 12 11 16 19 11 13 Buckley Hall — — — — — — — — — — 3 2 — — Forest Bank — — — — — — — — — — — — 13 15 Garth 4 2 5 6 8 12 4 3 3 2 4 4 17 19 Haverigg 4 3 6 4 5 2 — — 1 1 — — — — Hindley 2 4 — — 1 1 2 2 — — — — 1 1 Kennet 1 7 7 6 — — 11 10 3 2 9 5 9 2 Kirkham — — — — — — — — 1 1 7 6 63 13 Lancaster Castle — — — — — — — — — — — — 2 3 Lancaster Farms — 1 2 2 1 — — — 24 22 2 1 — — Liverpool 3 — 6 10 43 42 25 29 29 30 7 8 3 1 Preston — — 10 16 6 8 — — 5 8 1 5 3 3 Risley — — 5 8 6 7 2 2 10 15 7 9 2 4 Styal — — — — — — — — — — — — 2 2 Thorn Cross 2 — 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 — — — — Wymott 4 3 — 1 18 16 11 8 8 6 10 8 5 9 Total 20 40 54 63 110 111 74 77 97 99 66 67 131 85
M S M S M S M S M S M S Altcourse 10 13 17 16 63 61 30 25 69 73 278 302 Buckley Hall — — — — — 2 2 1 — — 5 5 Forest Bank 6 9 — — 3 — 3 2 5 5 30 31 Garth 1 3 5 3 4 4 2 2 5 8 62 68 Haverigg 1 — 1 1 4 2 6 5 3 1 31 19 Hindley — — — — — — — — — — 6 8 Kennet 2 1 — — — 1 2 — 3 3 47 37 Kirkham 15 12 17 2 51 17 21 11 30 13 205 75 Lancaster Castle 3 2 — 1 — — — — — — 5 6 Lancaster Farms — — — — — — — — 4 7 33 33 Liverpool 9 10 20 17 10 8 — — 14 20 169 175 Preston — — — — — — 3 4 — — 28 44 Risley 4 2 11 11 6 9 3 2 2 4 58 73 Styal — — 3 3 — — — — — — 5 5 Thorn Cross 2 2 1 2 4 4 7 9 8 5 29 28 Wymott 10 9 7 10 3 1 4 3 2 2 82 76 Total 63 63 82 66 148 109 83 64 145 141 1073 985
February March April May June July August M S M S M S M S M S M S M S Acklington 1 2 2 2 4 3 1 1 — — 1 — 9 7 Castington — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Deerbolt 4 2 — — — — 1 3 — — — — — — Durham 2 2 1 2 — — — — — — — — 3 5 Holme House 4 4 3 2 — 3 4 4 — 1 1 1 2 1 Kirklevington Grange 11 10 9 3 7 5 — 1 — 1 9 2 1 2 Low Newton — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Total 22 20 15 9 11 11 6 9 0 2 11 3 15 15 Grand total 262 284 304 323 363 357 353 377 407 396 376 425 476 393
M S M S M S M S M S M S Acklington 5 6 1 1 8 5 8 5 12 10 52 42 Castington — — 1 1 — — 1 1 1 1 3 3 Deerbolt — — 1 — — — — — — 1 6 6 Durham 3 5 1 1 — — 4 2 — — 14 17 Holme House 3 5 1 1 4 3 4 5 5 4 31 34 Kirklevington Grange 5 2 9 6 2 5 7 2 3 2 63 41 Low Newton — — — — — — — — — — 0 0 Total 16 18 14 10 14 13 24 15 21 18 169 143 Grand total 355 345 386 373 399 337 350 325 430 423 4,461 4,325
Data found on illicit mobile phones found in prison is analysed by establishments. However, for security reasons it is not possible to disclose details of how this is undertaken. Analysis of the data found on illicit mobile phones provides a potentially valuable source of intelligence for prisons and law enforcement agencies. Guidance to ensure a greater level of consistency across the estate is due to be circulated shortly.
Prisons are responsible for the analysis of the information recovered from mobile phones. Where there is evidence of a criminal offence, the matter is referred to the police. However, the majority of phones seized are not attributable to individual prisoners. The National Offender Management Service does not hold a centrally disaggregated record of the data found on illicit mobile phones found in prisons. To provide the information requested, we would need to contact all prisons in England and Wales, ask them to check their local records and to submit this information to headquarters. This would incur disproportionate cost.
Data found on illicit mobile phones found in prison are analysed by establishments. However, for security reasons it is not possible to disclose details of how this is undertaken. Analysis of the data found on illicit mobile phones provides a potentially valuable source of intelligence for prisons and law enforcement agencies. Guidance to ensure a greater level of consistency across the estate is due to be circulated shortly.
Due to the covert nature of mobile phone use in prisons, we are not able to estimate the number of mobile phones or component parts in circulation, nor are we able to assess their usage.
Probation Officers
Recruitment funding is included in the general grant paid to areas for probation officer training delivery. However, information about the specific local spend on recruitment was not routinely collected and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
The following information is the best quality information that is available but it has been transferred over time from the Home Office Adelphi finance system to the Prison Service Phoenix system and there is the possibility that there may be some gaps.
Details of the funding allocated for the training of probation officers is contained in the following tables.
Financial year Total (£ million) 2003-04 57.886 2004-05 63.272 2005-06 42.381 2006-07 42.381 2007-08 44.762 2008-09 41.663 2009-10 26.430 Note: 1. The costs detailed include the trainee salary, pension contribution and the university administration cost. Figures are only available from 2003-04 when the Home Office took over responsibility for the higher education contracts. 2. The funding increase in 2004-05 was based on the assumption that Custody Plus would be implemented, requiring a rapid increase in probation officers. When the policy decision was made to suspend this, trainee numbers decreased. The final cohort of Diploma in Probation Studies began their two-year course in October 2008 and the drop in funding in 2009-10 represents the fact that there is only one cohort to fund between October 2009 and April 2010. The new Probation Qualification Framework will be launched in April 2010.
Financial year Training allocation (£) 2003-04 n/a 2004-05 928,000 2005-06 772,000 2006-07 800,000 2007-08 800,000 2008-09 2,520,100 2009-10 2,500,000 Note: The allocation for 2003-04 is not known. In 2005-06, areas were required to bid for PSO training funding. In 2006 to date, funding is provided for 1,000 PSOs at £800 per head per year and Areas are allocated maximum numbers calculated using the cash limit formula. In 2008-09 and 2009-10, an additional investment was made in PSO training in preparation for the launch of the new Probation Qualification Framework in April 2010.
Treasury
Banks: Loans
Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings and discussions with UKFI as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, the Government do not disclose the outcome or results of all such meetings and discussions.
Carbon Sequestration: Finance
At Budget 2009, the Government made a commitment to fund two CCS demonstration plants. At the pre-Budget report, the Government announced this commitment would be extended to fund four demonstration plants.
Chemical Engineering: Government Assistance
The £30 million in support for the chemicals industry on Teesside is part of the £200 million extension to the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) announced at 2009 pre-Budget report (PBR).
The SIF, which is administered by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, was created in Budget 2009 to support advanced industrial projects of strategic importance. Together with the PBR extension, it has total funds of £950 million. Of this, £400 million is to be spent on low-carbon projects (including the Teesside support).
Climate Change Levy
Current estimates of Climate Change Levy receipts for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 are set out in Table B10 of the pre-Budget report 2009.
Economic Situation: Greece
The Chancellor of the Exchequer has regular discussions with European Finance Ministers on European economic matters. The situation in Greece was discussed at the last ECOFIN on 16 February.
Excise Duties: Beer
Alcohol duty policy is restricted by EU rules. It is not possible to levy different rates of duty on cask beer compared to beer sold in other types of packaging.
Financial Services: Local Government
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) responded to the Communities and Local Government Committee’s first report, explaining that the boundaries of regulation are set by HM Treasury, not the FSA.
Public Bodies: Empty Property
Central civil government departments, their executive agencies and arm's length bodies are already required to record actual and vacant properties on the e-PIMS database.
Public Sector: Energy
The commitment to a 10 per cent. reduction in public sector energy spending by financial year 2012-13 is with respect to a baseline of financial year 2008-09.
Renewable Energy: Finance
£50 million for the development of offshore wind technologies and £40 million for low carbon energy and advanced green manufacturing technologies are to be funded from the £200 million extension to the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) announced at 2009 pre-Budget report (PBR).
The SIF, which is administered by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, was created in Budget 2009 to support advanced industrial projects of strategic importance. Together with the PBR extension, it has total funds of £950 million. Of this, £400 million is to be spent on low carbon projects (including the two areas noted above).
Taxation: Domicile
Domicile is a concept of common law that is used in tax law for certain purposes. HM Revenue and Customs applies this legal concept to the facts of each case, those facts being established through the normal inquiry process.
HMRC has produced detailed guidance on domicile which gives an indication of the kind of information and documents that HMRC might request during an inquiry. These lists are not exhaustive. The guidance is available at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/domicile-tier2.pdf
This information is not available, as individuals are not required to report their UK domicile status or residence status to HM Revenue and Customs unless either is relevant to their liability to UK tax within that year.
UK Financial Investments: Expenditure
Information on establishing and maintaining UK Financial Investments Ltd during 2008-09 is shown in Note 13.8.1 on page 214 of HM Treasury Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09 (HC 611).
Information on spending in the current financial year will be available once the financial year has been completed and the Treasury’s Resource Account, due for publication in the summer, has been audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Further information on UK Financial Investments Limited’s expenditure can be found in its Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09, available at:
www.ukfi.gov.uk
Defence
Afghan Campaign Medal
The criteria for campaign medals are always complex, and subject to periodic review. The Ministry of Defence is aware of the situation pertaining to Aero-Medical personnel and consideration of their position is currently under active consideration and we hope to reach a conclusion shortly.
Armed Forces: Bomb Disposal
Specialist bomb disposal operators are highly skilled officers and senior non-commissioned officers of all three services that are trained to lead bomb disposal teams. The following table provides information on the number who have qualified as Conventional Munitions Disposal and/or Joint Service Improvised Explosive Device Disposal, and/or High Threat Improvised Explosive Device Disposal operators. As a result some personnel will have been recorded more than once.
Training year Total 2007-08 101 2008-09 101 2009 to date 100
To determine those personnel who have completed just a single course would require a manual search of records and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
AWE Aldermaston
The work undertaken at the existing hydrodynamics facility at AWE Aldermaston exclusively supports defence activities including the requirement to maintain the skills base for the UK's deterrent capability. It is expected that this would also be the case for any replacement hydrodynamics facility.
Departmental Housing
I will write to the hon. Member when I have obtained the information, and will place a copy in the Library of the House.
Substantive answer from Kevan Jones to Willie Rennie:
In my answer of 22 February (Official Report, column 19W) I undertook to write to you with details on permanent and temporary accommodation for civil servants in each of the last 12 months.
Civil servants transferring within the Department in the UK may stay in temporary accommodation when they are sent on a long-term temporary basis to a different work location outside of reasonable daily travel of their home. They may also stay in temporary accommodation for a short period prior to occupying their permanent home following a transfer in the UK to a location which gives help with relocation expenses. The number of employees staying in temporary accommodation following a permanent or temporary transfer constantly fluctuates as employees enter or leave the accommodation. To obtain the numbers for each month would involve disproportionate cost, but on average, there are 250+ employees staying in temporary accommodation at any one time. This may be in private rented accommodation, service messes or staying with family or friends in the new area. Costs for each of the last 12 months are as follows:
Month Amount (£) January 123,447 February 106,178 March 129,840 April 122,364 May 95,590 June 106,730 July 108,687 August 99,980 September 102,421 October 104,422 November 98,532 December 110,122
The responsibility for permanent accommodation costs at the normal place of work is a personal one. However, civil servants who are transferred on permanent terms to a new location where they may receive help with relocation costs may be eligible to receive assistance with Additional Housing Costs Allowance (AHCA). This payment provides a measure of help with additional housing costs for the new permanent home following a move to a more expensive location. It is payable for nine years (inclusive of a taper in the last four years). There are currently 1300 employees in receipt of AHCA at some point in the nine year cycle. Payments to civil servants in each of the last 12 months are as follows:
Month Amount (£) January 429,135 February 421,516 March 435,458 April 322,936 May 318,271 June 325,308 July 338,113 August 323,388 September 320,108 October 338,412 November 336,157 December 327,434
Similar information from overseas areas could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Marketing
The Ministry of Defence has not conducted any Real Help Now or Building Britain's Future themed campaigns.
Departmental Theft
The Ministry of Defence Police have recorded 26 thefts of personal property and nine thefts of MOD departmental property, from premises in London, during the period 1 February 2008 to 28 February 2010.
Middle East: Navy
One Royal Navy vessel is assigned to Op Calash. This is either a Type 22 or Type 23 Frigate.
The three Royal Fleet Auxiliaries deployed in the middle east are: RFA Bayleaf, supporting UK, NATO and Coalition forces in and around the Arabian Gulf; RFA Cardigan Bay, supporting the Iraqi Training and Mentoring Team; and RFA Lyme Bay, supporting UK Mine Counter Measure forces working in the Gulf.
Trade Unions
The Ministry of Defence makes certain facilities available to civilian employees who are accredited representatives or members, but not paid officials, of Trade Unions and Staff Associations recognised by the Department.
Special Paid Leave or Unpaid leave may be given to accredited Trade Union (TU) representatives, for the following TU Activities, which are specifically concerned with TU policy:
Attendance at a conference of a MOD recognised TU, whether as a delegate or trainee delegate;
Representing a MOD TU on external bodies, relevant to employment in the Civil Service e.g. at TUC meetings;
Duty as organiser or treasurer.
Members of a recognised TU, who are not elected representatives, may be allowed reasonable time off, Special Paid Leave, for the following TU activities:
a conference of a recognised MOD TU, whether as a delegate or as a trainee delegate;
TU meetings at which branches consider the proposed resolutions for annual conferences;
branch committee meetings as a committee member who is not an accredited representative; and
representing the TU on external bodies relevant to employment in the Civil Service e.g. at TUC meetings.
The information regarding the amount of days MOD employees spend on TU activity, and its cost, is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Cabinet Office
Departmental Temporary Employment
The information requested for the Cabinet Office is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Energy and Climate Change
Boilers: Government Assistance
The boiler to be replaced under the Boiler Scrappage Scheme must be in working order (unless the applicant is over 60) to be eligible for a voucher.
In the first place we rely on a declaration by the applicant. This is checked by an onsite audit of a percentage of applicants before the replacement boiler is installed.
There is also a signed declaration on the voucher by the installer and applicant that the boiler removed was working where this is applicable.
Carbon Emissions: Boilers
Based on manufacturers' data on the lifecycle costs of a boiler, we estimate the greenhouse gas emissions from a boiler's manufacture are less than 1 per cent. of its lifetime emissions, with 99 per cent. associated with the fuel consumed during its operation.
We estimate the annual reduction in CO2 emissions from the boiler scrappage scheme at 110,000 to 140,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
The Government have estimated that there will be a saving of 110,000 to 140,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
Collaboration Agreements
The UK recently announced a £4.9 million collaboration on solar technology, led by Research Councils UK with matched funding from the Indian Department of Science and Technology. Two projects will run for three years each with a focus on creating cheaper, more effective solar panel technology.
As part of the Joint Declaration by the UK and India on civil nuclear co-operation, the two countries have agreed to jointly encourage research collaboration in this area. The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Indian Department of Atomic Energy will consider potential scientific areas for this enhanced collaboration at a joint meeting in the UK in March 2010. The costs of this first step will be shared between the two parties.
DFID is supporting renewable energy initiatives in remote areas through development programmes in Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. In Orissa the project is focused on provision of solar lighting and in Madhya Pradesh it is focused on biogas cooking units. These renewable initiatives are part of bigger state level programmes and comprise only a very small part of overall funding.
DFID is supporting power sector reforms in two states, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, with an objective to achieve more efficient public sector units. The initiative in West Bengal is in partnership with the Department of Power and Non-conventional Energy Sources, Government of West Bengal (up to £11 million from June 2008 to March 2011). DFID has also supported capacity building of the power sector in West Bengal through the World Bank Trust Fund (up to $300,000 from June 2005 to March 2009). In Madhya Pradesh the power sector reforms project (2008-10, £20.4 million) supported evaluation of renewables in three key sectors (1) small scale industries, (2) municipal building and (3) water and waste water treatment. Under the next phase DFID India will be providing support to build capacity of the State Renewable Energy Agency.
DFID have also announced plans to provide the Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) with up to £10 million over the next five years. This funding will help to bring electricity and clean energy to millions of the world's poorest people by supporting renewable energy projects in India. As is routine, DFID is undertaking a full institutional assessment of TERI as part of their due diligence process before releasing funds.
Also with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, DFID is providing £285,000 through Winrock International India to develop sustainable business models for access to energy in remote rural areas.
Combined Heat and Power
The feed-in tariff rate for the micro-CHP 'pilot', designed to support up to 30,000 installations with a capacity of 2kW or below, will be 10p/kWh. This rate was published in the Government's Response to the Feed-in Tariff Consultation on February 1 and can be found on the DECC website.
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/elec_financial/elec_financial.aspx
Departmental Consultants
Since its inception on 3 October 2008 the Department of Energy and Climate Change has spent £10,624,367 on consultancy services.
Examples include advice on Combined Heat and Power, the evaluation of capital grant applications and renewable energy advice for which AEA Technology Services were paid £1,600, 000 a scoping study and the development of the Carbon Reduction Commitment registry for which the Environment Agency were paid £930,000, and analysis to support renewables for which NERA were paid £151,000.
It is not possible to identify all reimbursable expenses without incurring disproportionate costs.
Departmental Disabled Staff
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) was created in October 2008 bringing together staff from Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The number of employees within DECC and who have declared a disability status was published in the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey (ACSES) by the Office for National Statistics on 20 January 2010.
An extract is shown as follows:
Number/percentage Disabled 40 Non-disabled 200 Not declared or non-response 670 Total 910 All employees with known disability status 240 Disabled employees as percentage of known disability status 16.5 1 Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
The median earnings for non-disabled and disabled employees is as follows:
Non-disabled Disabled Full-time 37,710 31,900 Part-time 49,570 1— 1 Data not available as disclosure could identify individuals. Note: Data compiled as at 31 March 2009.
Eaga: Warm Front Scheme
[holding answer 3 March 2010]: The Department has Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in place to monitor Eaga's performance and hold regular meetings with Eaga at which time any concerns we have will be raised with them. Under the terms of the contract, my Department and Eaga will review the current KPIs this year. Furthermore, my Department engages independent Consultants and Quality Assessors, WYG, to audit Eaga's performance. Over the past two years the quarterly scorecards have shown that Eaga have principally met their key performance indicators. Provisions within the contract between the Department and Eaga allows the Department to claim and be paid service credits for any failure by Eaga to reach a set target for delivery against key KPIs. To date, the Department has not had to enforce the payment of service credits for failure to meet KPIs.
Energy Supply: Fees and Charges
Ofgem publish annual estimates of the number of customer accounts on social tariffs.
http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR/Documents1/Monitoring_suppliers_social_spend_2008_09_final.pdf
At the end of March 2009, over 1 million customer accounts were on social tariffs, an increase of 118 per cent. from 460,000 customer accounts on social tariffs as at 31 March 2008.
Of the 1 million (1,004,000) customer accounts on social tariffs at the end of March 2009, 493,000 were for electricity; 470,000 were for gas and 41,000 were for duel fuel.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
[holding answer 4 March 2010]: DECC publishes estimated values of the EU allowance price for use in appraising savings from policies that reduce emissions in the sectors covered by the EU Emissions Trading System.
The current valuation of EU allowances for 2012 provides a range between £13 and £28 with a central value of £22. In 2015 the forecast is a range between £13 and £29 with a central value of £23. These values assume an EU 20 per cent. reduction on 1990 emissions, and do not factor in the potential for a higher EU target.
The current published values have not incorporated the impact of the economic recession. Revised values are being prepared and will be published shortly.
Fuel Oil: Prices
[holding answer 4 March 2010]: This winter we witnessed an increase in the price of heating oil, both wholesale and retail. Wholesale heating oil prices reached a peak of $729.75 (8 January 2010), a 14-month high. Retail heating oil prices reached a peak of 43.11p/1 (18 January 2010), a 15-month high. While distributors faced access problems due to poor weather conditions, heating oil prices are driven primarily by demand changes and crude prices, which increased in the same period.
The peak in prices follows on from a general upward trend in the price of heating oil and crude oil since the beginning of 2009. However current prices are still well below the record levels reached in July 2008. Indeed the retail heating oil price is currently 42.20p/l (1 March 2010), 33 per cent. below the 2008 peak, while the wholesale heating oil price is currently $689/tonne (1 March 2010), 53 per cent. below the 2008 peak.
Renewable Energy
Table 1 shows the grams of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of electricity generated by major power producers in the UK since 1980.
gCO2/KWh 1980 815.3 1981 793.9 1982 771.3 1983 740.4 1984 686.6 1985 688.2 1986 700.9 1987 714.2 1988 680.7 1989 658.0 1990 675.1 1991 665.5 1992 630.5 1993 563.9 1994 544.2 1995 520.3 1996 499.6 1997 463.6 1998 465.6 1999 437.6 2000 464.4 2001 478.1 2002 464.6 2003 478.4 2004 482.4 2005 476.5 2006 500.8 2007 491.9 2008 487.5
Provisional data for 2009 will be available after 29 July 2010.
Wood: Imports
The Department does not hold information on the proportion of wood pellets used in heat and electricity generation that were imported. However, in 2008, three major power producers used either wood pellets or wood chip, usually co-fired with other fuels.
Wales
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
One member of staff (administrative assistant) as part of her duties provides support to the senior civil servants and special advisers, in relation to travel and accommodation arrangements.
Communities and Local Government
Council Tax: Southend
Council tax is a property tax. Whether the resident(s) or the owner(s) of a property should be liable for council tax is for individual local authorities to decide.
Departmental Advertising
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 8 June 2009, Official Report, column 747W to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Ann Coffey).
Departmental Internet
The Department's website was redesigned in October 2005 and in August 2007.
Departmental Languages
Records of the coaching received in foreign languages for staff in Communities and Local Government are not held by the Department. However, data obtained from training coordinators within the Department shows that in the last 12 months no Minister has received coaching in a foreign language and the following table gives the details of the civil servants who have received coaching in a foreign language during the last 12 months.
Language Cost (£) Number of officials French 2,910 12 Chinese 1,500 2 Spanish 297.90 1
Departmental Marketing
The Department publishes details of its central marketing communications spend on an annual basis. Details for the last full financial year, 2008-09, are available on the Department's website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1298507.pdf
In 2008-09 marketing communications activity on help for homeowners and HomeBuy used the Real Help Now brand, at a total cost of £1,372,511. No marketing communications activity used the Building Britain's Future brand.
The Department will publish details of central marketing communications spend for 2009-10 at the time of its 2010 Annual Report.
Empty Property
Estimates of the proportion of empty homes and the proportion of homes empty for more than six months in each region in each of the last five years are shown in the following table.
There are a number of reasons why a property might become empty, e.g. the current economic climate or where a property needs to be renovated before occupation or where it is in probate. It is therefore important to draw a distinction between properties that have been left empty for less than six months and those that are vacant for longer.
Percentage 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total vacants Long term vacants Total vacants Long term vacants Total vacants Long term vacants Total vacants Long term vacants North East 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 North West 4 2 4 2 5 2 5 2 Yorkshire and the Humber 4 2 4 2 4 2 5 2 East Midlands 3 1 3 2 3 1 4 1 West Midlands 4 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 East of England 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 London 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 South East 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 South West 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 England 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 Sources: Council Taxbase and Council Taxbase Supplementary (CTB1 and CTB1S) returns from local authorities
Housing: Construction
The latest data on total affordable housing supply relate to 2008-09. In that year there were 10 affordable homes provided through acquisitions.
Information on planned housing is available in ‘Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks’.
Written Questions: Government Responses
I have now replied to the hon. Member’s question.
Home Department
Chorley
The Home Office has introduced a range of policies and initiatives since 1997. The available statistical information relates to the Chorley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area.
In terms of police recorded crime, data prior to 2002-03 is not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime in Chorley fell by 13 per cent. More specifically:
Sexual offences: down 21 per cent. (down 34 per cent. in last year).
Robbery: down 43 per cent. (down 23 per cent. in last year).
Burglary: down 44 per cent (down 1 per cent. in last year).
Offences against vehicles: down 56 per cent. (down 12 per cent. in last year).
Other theft offences: down 12 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year).
Criminal damage: down 1 per cent. (down 2 per cent. in last year).
Drug offences: up 22 per cent. (up 9 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
Violence against the person rose by 71 per cent. between 2002-03 and 2008-09. Between 2007-08 and 2008-09 it fell by 1 per cent. It reached a peak at 1,902 offences in 2004-05 and has subsequently fallen to 1,302 offences in 2008-09 (a fall of 32 per cent).
Chorley comes within the Lancashire Southern Basic Command Unit. Lancashire Southern BCU had 493 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by seven since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for Lancashire Southern BCU are not available. There were 77 Police Community Support Officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./
Cleethorpes
The Home Office has introduced a range of policies and initiatives since 1997. However, it is not always possible to quantify their effects particularly at constituency level. The available statistical information therefore relates to North East Lincolnshire.
In terms of police recorded crime in North East Lincolnshire, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 26 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the person—up 16 per cent. (down 1 per cent. in last year)
Sexual offences—down 30 per cent. (up 8 per cent. in last year)
Robbery—down 33 per cent. (down 17 per cent. in last year)
Burglary—down 38 per cent. (down 5 per cent. in last year)
Offences against vehicles—down 62 per cent. (down 41 per cent. in last year)
Other theft offences—down 12 per cent. (up 3 per cent. in last year)
Criminal damage—down 17 per cent. (down 18 per cent. in last year)
Drug offences—up 16 per cent. (down 26 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which was mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at borough level is available prior to 1998-99.
Cleethorpes comes within the North East Lincolnshire Basic Command Unit. North East Lincolnshire BCU had 263 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has decreased by 115 since 2003. This decrease in numbers is due to the transfer of various functions from divisions to central services i.e. Command Centres, Traffic Units etc. Also, the recruitment of civilian Investigation Officers and Detention Officers across Humberside Police Force has contributed to the drop in police officer numbers. Comparisons with 1997 for North East Lincolnshire BCU are not available. There were 49 Police Community Support Officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 saw positive effects with the statutory duty to create a Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). The CDRP (Safer Communities North East Lincolnshire) has brought new ways of working in a cross cutting way with the police, council and other key stakeholders and genuine partnership working to help tackle complex issues.
The CDRP paved the way for a number of community safety initiatives which have benefited Cleethorpes. North East Lincolnshire has received funding under the Home Office Crime Reduction Programme and successor initiatives including the Safer and Stronger Communities Fund and the Basic Command Unit Fund. It has also benefited from other targeted Home Office funding streams which support work on drugs and alcohol harm reduction, domestic abuse, neighbourhood crime and justice, and antisocial behaviour.
The Home Office Partnership Support Programme helped review CDRP delivery structures and the future strategic development of the district’s CCTV system. North East Lincolnshire is currently in receipt of funding from the Vigilance Programme which is helping to accelerate the development of Integrated Offender Management. This is seen as the next step in achieving further sustainable reductions in crime across the district.
Before 1997 there were no bespoke powers to tackle antisocial behaviour but there are now a range of powers to deal with this issue. These include Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and Designated Public Places Orders (DPPO) from the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
North East Lincolnshire’s CDRP and wider partnership approach has been recognised nationally as effective practice. For example, the delivery of its Family Intervention Programme, which joins-up the resources of several Government Departments, and its work on reducing antisocial behaviour and providing visible neighbourhood justice.
The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 Census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
Identity and Passport Service: Contracts
The following statement was made in the Official Journal of European Union (OJEU) Notice with regards to Front Office Services:
“IPS seeks expressions of interest from Service Providers for securing concessions to provide Front Office Services (FOS) to members of the public in connection with identity products issued by IPS and other government departments. These services may subsume the “Check & Send” assisted application process for UK passports.”
This gives the agency the option to include the “Check and Send” service as part of the Front Office Services if deemed appropriate after further discussion with the suppliers down selected at the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage.
Milton Keynes
The Home Office has introduced a range of policies and initiatives since 1997. However, it is not always possible to quantify their effects particularly at constituency level. The available statistical information therefore relates to the Milton Keynes crime and disorder reduction partnership area.
In terms of police recorded crime in Milton Keynes, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime rose by 8 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the person—up 85 per cent. (up 1 per cent. in last year)
Sexual offences—down 11 per cent. (down 4 per cent. in last year)
Robbery—up 42 per cent. (up 4 per cent. in last year)
Burglary—down 12 per cent. (down 2 per cent. in last year)
Offences against vehicles—down 24 per cent. (no change in last year)
Other theft offences—down 4 per cent. (down 4 per cent. in last year)
Criminal damage—up 2 per cent. (down 9 per cent. in last year)
Drug offences—up 134 per cent. (up 26 per cent. in last year) (there has been increased recording of drug offences which is mainly attributable to the increased use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings).
Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at borough level are available prior to 1998-99.
Milton Keynes Basic Command Unit had 419 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has increased by 73 since 2003. Comparisons with 1997 for Milton Keynes BCU are not available. There were 73 police community support officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 1997.
Antisocial behaviour
Milton Keynes is to receive an additional £44,000 to tackle antisocial behaviour as part of the joint announcement in November 2009 by the Home Secretary and the Communities Secretary of additional funding for tackling ASB.
Drug-related offending
Since the inception of the national Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) in 2003, Milton Keynes has received Home Office funding to deliver the DIP programme enabling it to tackle and reduce drug-related crime through targeting and steering individuals into treatment to reduce their offending. In 2009-10 Milton Keynes received grant of £166,338.
Tackling knives
Thames Valley is part of the Tackling Knife Crime and Serious Youth Violence Programme (TKAPIISYV) and has been allocated £250,000 from the TKAP programme for 2009-10. This includes work with young people and the community to prevent and educate about knife crime and serious youth violence. It will include the 13 to 24-year-old offender group who in Milton Keynes have a statistically significant impact on total knife crime.
Domestic violence
Milton Keynes has received funding and support from the Home Office and Government office for the south-east (GOSE) to tackle domestic violence. This includes Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference MARAC funding 2008-09 (£15,000), Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) funding 2007-08 (£20,000), Domestic Violence project 2003-05 ( £20,000) and A and E information sharing initiative 2006-07 (£10,000).
Milton Keynes is benefiting from GOSE regional support on improving performance of MARACs through the commissioning of tailored MARAC chair training providing them with the tools and skills to develop their MARAC and improve delivery of NI32—reducing repeat victimisation. The Home Office have provided NI32 data collection workshops for MARAC co-ordinators.
GOSE organises a regional Domestic Violence Co-ordinators forum bringing together the local authority co-ordinators (including Milton Keynes) on a quarterly basis to share good practice, provide them with an opportunity to keep up to date with—and help inform—Government policy, discuss emerging issues and resolutions, encourage new ideas and provide mutual support.
Alcohol related violence
GOSE provided Milton Keynes with advice in the development of their Alcohol Strategy. Milton Keynes attends GOSE's regional alcohol forum which is held every two months. Where the work of the Department of Health colleagues, the HO alcohol lead, DCSF young people's alcohol lead and TKAPIISYV local advisor in ensuring the Most Serious Violence, Alcohol and Health agendas are pulled together to deliver reductions in violent crime. Milton Keynes £9,700 received from the Alcohol-related Partnership Activity Fund in 2008-09.
Partnership support programme
The Home Office and GOSE made a joint Partnership Programme intervention in Milton Keynes in 2007 to help support improvements in the Milton Keynes Community Safety Partnership. Following agreement of its recommendations there has been improvement in partnership working to deliver on key aspects of the community safety agenda. Milton Keynes received £20,000 in 2008-09 from the Partnership Support Programme.
Police BCU funding Milton Keynes BCU received an allocation of £150,204 for 2009-10.
Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (capital) grant
In 2009-10 Milton Keynes received £73,000.
The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk./
Thanet
The Home Office has introduced a range of policies and initiatives since 1997. However, it is not always possible to quantify their effects particularly at constituency level. The available statistical information therefore relates to the Thanet Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership area.
In terms of police recorded crime in Thanet, between 2002-03 and 2008-09, total recorded crime fell by 3 per cent. More specifically:
Violence against the person - up 27 per cent. (down 6 per cent. in last year)
Sexual offences - up 10 per cent. (down 25 per cent. in last year)
Robbery - up 12 per cent. (up 17 per cent. in last year)
Burglary - down 17 per cent. (down 7 per cent. in last year)
Offences against vehicles - down 34 per cent. (down 15 per cent. in last year)
Other theft offences - no change (no change in last year)
Criminal damage - no change (down 19 per cent. in last year)
Drug offences - down 28 per cent. (down 22 per cent. in last year)
Data prior to 2002-03 are not directly comparable because of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. Additionally, no data at borough level is available prior to 1998-99.
With regard to police numbers, the available information relates to the East Kent Basic Command Unit which had 448 police officers as at 30 March 2009. The number of police officers has increased by 17 since 2007 (different boundaries where in place prior to this). Comparisons with 1997 for East Kent BCU are not available. There were 67 Police Community Support Officers as at 30 March 2009 while there were none in existence in 2000.
ASB
Kent is to receive an additional £64,000 to tackle AntiSocial Behaviour as part of the joint announcement in November 2009 by the Home Secretary and the Communities Secretary of additional funding for tackling ASB.
Tackling Knives
Kent is part of the Tackling Knife Crime and Serious Youth Violence Programme (TKAPIISYV). This includes work with young people and the community to prevent and educate about knife crime and serious youth violence. Kent has been allocated £100,000 from the TKAP programme for 2009-10.
Alcohol Related Violence
Thanet is part of the Alcohol Partnership Support Programme receiving funding for 2008-09 of £30, 000 and 2009 -10 of £30,000 for alcohol initiatives and communications. £25,000 has been used to assist Thanet in putting in place the necessary components for the successful multi agency running of the night time economy or other meeting place. The remaining £5,000 is for communication work.
Domestic Violence
For 2009-10 GOSE has provided Kent with £40,000 funding from the Home Office Private Place Violence regional funds for Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs). The IDVA works with and supports high risk victims of domestic violence.
In 2008-09 GOSE provided Kent with £35,000 funding to increase their MARAC coverage across the region, and also funded MARAC training of £20,000 and IDVA funding of £40,000. Thanet is served by the East Kent MARAC covering Thanet and Canterbury. Thanet is benefiting from GOSE regional support on improving performance of MARACs through the commissioning of tailored MARAC chair training providing them with the tools and skills to develop their MARAC and improve delivery of NI32 - reducing repeat victimisation. The Home Office have provided NI32 data collection workshops for MARAC co-ordinators.
Drug-related offending
Since the inception of the national Drugs Intervention Programme (DIP) in 2003, Kent has received Home Office funding to deliver the DIP programme enabling it to tackle and reduce drug-related crime through targeting and steering individuals into treatment to reduce their offending. In 2009-10 Kent received a grant of £1,168,644.
Migration Impact Fund (MIF)
The MIF will be targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration related pressures. Funding will be allocated to local projects from Government Offices working closely with local partners. It will be targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration related pressures - where possible involving and benefiting a number of local services. Thanet will benefit from MIF through monies that were awarded to Kent county council.
(a) Thanet Specific
Czech/Roma Integration - £70,000 in respect of year one (2009-10) and £90,000 provisionally awarded for year two (2010-11) focused which is specifically Thanet
(b) Kent award, which will include some benefit to Thanet
£210,000 in respect of year one (2009-10) and £210,000 (in aggregate, as per year 1) provisionally awarded for year two (2010-11); to promote the participation and inclusion of new migrants in Kent; mobile information and advice service to hard to reach rural migrant workers; and one-stop-shop for migrants
The Neighbourhood Statistics Service provides a wide range of statistical information at parliamentary constituency level, taken from the 2001 census and other sources. This service is available on the National Statistics website at:
http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk