Written Answers
Tuesday, 2 November 2004.
Public Order Offences
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 11 October (
WA 22–24), how many convictions have been obtained in each of the past three years for which figures are available on charges of intimidation, threatening behaviour and actual harm to persons or property arising from such behaviour; and how many of these convictions have arisen from illegal acts by animal rights activists. [HL4379]
The information contained in the first table is for England and Wales 2000 to 2002 and comes from the Home Office court proceedings database. It gives the number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to causing harassment, alarm, distress, putting people in fear of violence and harassment under the Public Order Act 1986 and Protection from Harassment Act 1997.It is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to determine whether a conviction of actual harm to persons or property arose
| Number of offenders found guilty for certain offences under the "Public Order Act 1986" and "Protection from Harassment Act 1997", England and Wales 2000 to 20021 | ||||
| Offence description | Statute | 20002 | 2001 | 2002 |
| Causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress | Public Order Act 1986 Part 1, Sec 4A as amended by Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994, Sec 154 | 651 | 748 | 771 |
| Racially aggravated causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress | Public Order Act 1986, Sec 4A as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sect 31(l)(b) & (4) | 407 | 448 | 400 |
| Fear or provocation of violence | Public Order Act 1986, Sec 4 | 11,871 | 11,308 | 11,261 |
| Racially aggravated fear or provocation of violence | Public Order Act 1986, Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec 31(1)(a) & (4) | 299 | 267 | 361 |
| Harassment, alarm or distress | Public Order Act 1986, Sec 5 | 16,604 | 15,479 | 15,952 |
| Racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress | Public Order Act 1986, Sec 5 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec 31(1)(c) & (5) | 461 | 734 | 710 |
| Putting people in fear of violence | Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Sec 4 | 515 | 535 | 585 |
| Racially aggravated putting people in fear of violence | Protection from Harrassment Act 1997, Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec32(l)(b) & (4) | 59 | 55 | 53 |
| Offence of harassment | Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Sec 2 | 2,864 | 2,704 | 2,764 |
| Racially aggravated offence of harassment | Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Sec 4 as amended by Crime & Disorder Act 1998, Sec 32(l)(a) & (3) | 81 | 102 | 99 |
| 1 These data are on the prinicipal offence basis. | ||||
| 2 Staffordshire Police Force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates' courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. | ||||
from intimidation or threatening behaviour, as the individual circumstances of the offence are not collected. Neither is it possible to identify whether a defendant in any particular case is an animal rights activist.
The information contained in the second table gives the number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to causing harassment, alarm, distress, putting people in fear of violence and harassment under the Public Order Act 1986 and Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Scotland 2000 to 2002.
The information contained in the third table shows the number of persons convicted at all courts in Northern Ireland from 2000 to 2002 for offences relating to intimidation, threatening behaviour and actual harm under the legislation: Protection of the Person and Property Act (Northern Ireland) 1969; Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981; Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987; Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1966; Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997; and Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.
As is the case for Home Office, it is not possible from the NIO court proceedings data sets to determine whether a conviction of actual harm to persons or property arose from intimidation or threatening behaviour, as the individual circumstances of the offence are not collected. Neither is it to identify whether a defendant in any particular case is an animal rights activist.
Number of offenders found guilty for certain offences under the "Public Order Act 1986" and "Protection from Harassment Act 1997", Scotland, 2000–2002" 1
| ||||
Offence description
| Statute
| 2000
| 2001
| 2002
|
| Breach of non harassment order granted by civil court | Protection from Harassment 1997 Act Section 8(1)(A) | — | 2 | — |
| Protection from Harassment 1997 Act Section 8(5)(B) | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Protection from Harassment 1997 Act Section 9 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Protection from Harassment 1997 Act Section 9(1) | 5 | 4 | — | |
| Protection from Harassment 1997 Act Section 9(1)(A) | 1 | 4 | 13 | |
| Protection from Harassment 1997 Act Section 9(1)(B) | 3 | 3 | 7 | |
| Public processions etc | Public Order Act 1986 Section 18 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Race Relations Act | Public Order Act 1986 Section 18(1)(A) | — | 1 | — |
| Public Order Act 1986 Section 18(1)(B) | — | — | 1 | |
1 These data are on the prinicipal offence basis. | ||||
Number of offenders found guilty of offences relating to intimidation, harassment, threatening behaviour and causing fear Northern Ireland 2000–2002 1
| ||||
Offence description
| Statute
| 2000
| 2001
| 2002
|
| Intimidation residence/occupation | Protection of the Person and Property Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 Section 1 &4 | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| Intimidation—person leave employment | Protection of the Person and Property Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 Section 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Intimidation to do/refrain from doing an act | Protection of the Person and Property Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 Section 1 & 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Intimidation—witness | Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1969 Article 47(1) | — | 2 | — |
| Harming witness | Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 Section 40(1) | 1 | — | 1 |
| Harassment | Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 Article 3 & 4 | 17 | 20 | 19 |
| Using threatening abusive insulting words of behaviour | Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 of Article 19(1) | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| Displaying anything proactive | Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 Article 19(1) | — | 4 | 4 |
| Doing a provocative act | Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 Article 19(1) | — | 4 | — |
| Causing another to fear violence | Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 Article 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Possessing firearm with intent to cause fear of violence | Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 Article 17A | 4 | 7 | 5 |
1 These data are on the prinicipal offence basis | ||||
2 2002 is the most current data available in Northern Ireland. | ||||
Air Weapons
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the display of an air weapon at a public meeting, such as a party conference, is in breach of Section 19 of the Firearms Act 1968 as amended, or Section 37 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, or both. [HL4473]
It is for the courts to determine, having regard to all the circumstances, whether a person has lawful authority or reasonable excuse for possessing an air weapon in a public place.
Parliament Square, 15 September 2004
asked Her Majesty's Government:When the Independent Police Complaints Commission is expected to issue its report on the events in Parliament Square on 15 September 2004. [HL4485]
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) informs me that because of the scale and complexity of the investigation it is not possible to say at this time when its report will be issued.However, the IPCC is committed to ensuring proportionate and timely investigations into complaints against the police and will keep the public informed of developments as the investigation progresses.
Homicide Convictions And Later Killings
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many people have died since 1963 in England and Wales at the hands of persons previously convicted of homicide. [HL4599]
During the period 1963 to date, a total of 108 persons in England and Wales are known to have been killed by persons who had been previously convicted of homicide in England and Wales.As with previous answers, the figure excludes persons who have been killed by those who may have been convicted outside England and Wales (for whom there is incomplete information) and persons who have been killed by those not previously convicted of homicide by reason of their mental state.
Football-Related Arrests
asked Her Majesty's Government:Why arrests data relating to offences inside and outside football stadia in respect of the previous season were not published in August this year, as in previous years. [HL4619]
The Home Office published its statistics on football-related arrests and banning orders for the 2003–04 season on 23 October.The statistics were published in October, unlike those for the past two years which were published in August, to enable collation of full information from local police forces and to allow Parliament to return from recess. Future publications of the statistics are likely to be in October.
Eu: Environment And Transport
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they support the proposed increase in competence of the European Union to cover the urban environment, including local transport planning. [HL4566]
The European Union already has some competence in the areas of environment and transport. There are no specific proposals to extend this.
Local Government Finance
asked Her Majesty's Government:Which local authorities in England have not yet received the full level of revenue support grant that would be due under the new formula allocation system introduced in 2003–04 had ceilings not applied; how much the shortfall is for each such authority last year and this year; and what proportion of their revenue budget such shortfalls equate to; and [HL4664]What progress has been made this year in implementing the new needs-based formula grant regime for local authorities in England by phasing out the floors and ceilings system; and when they intend to implement the new system in full. [HL4665]
The White Paper Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services announced our intention of having floors and ceilings within the local government finance settlement. The floors are necessary to ensure that all authorities receive a reasonable increase in grant each year on a like-for-like basis. These must be paid for within the total amount of grant that goes to authorities each year. Every authority above the floor level therefore contributes to the cost of the floor.A table has been placed in the Library of the House showing the difference in formula grant before and after floors and ceilings for 2003–04 and 2004–05 for all authorities, and expresses this difference as a proportion of their revenue expenditure.The revenue expenditure data have been taken from the revenue expenditure line in the Revenue Accounts Budget Estimates Returns for 2003–04 and 2004–05. Revenue expenditure is defined as the sum of council tax requirement; government grants including police grant, general Greater London Authority (GLA) grant, revenue support grant, special and specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF), redistributed non-domestic rates; and the use of reserves and other adjustments.It should be noted that combined fire authorities became precepting authorities in 2004–05. Before that, they were funded by contributions from the county councils and unitary authorities within their area. On becoming precepting authorities the combined fire authorities received formula grant directly; before this the formula grant for fire services with respect to areas covered by the combined fire authorities was paid to the county councils and unitary councils, i.e. those authorities upon which the combined fire authorities levied.
Incapacity Benefit
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is their latest estimate of the number in receipt of incapacity benefit (a) below the age of 25 in Wales; (b) below the age of 25 in the United Kingdom; (c) between 25 and 55 in Wales; and (d) between 25 and 55 in the United Kingdom; and how these figures compare in percentage terms with those in 1992 and 1997. [HL4561]
The available information is in the table.
| All Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance claimants by age and Government Office Region, at the quarter shown. | ||
| Under 25 | 25 to 55 | |
| Great Britain (May 2004) | 167,900 | 1,650,300 |
| Comparison with May 1997 | 10.0 per cent | 7.5 per cent |
| Comparison with April 1992* | 34.7 per cent | 46.6 per cent |
| Wales (May 2004) | 11,400 | 119,900 |
| Comparison with May 1997 | -6.1 per cent | -0.7 per cent |
| Comparison with April 1992* | 10 per cent | 9.7 per cent |
Source:
DWP Information Centre, 1 per cent annual samples up to April 1995 and 5 per cent quarterly samples thereafter.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
2. Figures are shown for Great Britain rather than the UK as Social Security for Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Office.
*Figures include Sickness and Invalidity Benefit and Non-Contributory Incapacity Pension, now Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance respectively.
Theme Parks, Fairgrounds And Pleasure Beaches: Serious Accidents
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many serious accidents have been recorded in theme parks, fairgrounds and pleasure beaches in England and Wales in each of the years 2002, 2003 and in 2004 to date. [HL4564]
In the year 2001–02 there were 408 accidents, two of which were fatal, in England and Wales that were reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities.In the year 2002–03 there were 258 reported accidents, one of which was fatal.Provisional figures for non-fatal accidents for 2003–04 will be available from 18 November 2004. The provisional figures for fatal injuries for this period indicate that there were no fatal accidents in this sector.The non-validated in-year information for fatal accidents reported to HSE for 2004–05 indicate that there have been three fatal accidents to date. No data are available for non-fatal accidents for this period.
Youth Sport Trust: Chief Executive
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, and if so when, they intend to take steps to address any conflict of interest faced by the Reform Chair of UK Sport continuing to be the chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust. [HL4407]
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to him on 4 March 2004 (Official Report, col. WA 114) by my noble friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland). The Government agree that no potential conflict of interest exists.
Sport: Support For Non-Olympic Governing Bodies
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the English Institute of Sport assists non-Olympic sports with elite performance support of any kind; and which non-Olympic governing bodies are in receipt of such support. [HL4408]
The English Institute of Sport (EIS) provides performance support to a number of non-Olympic sports and the national governing bodies currently in receipt of such support include: England Squash, the All England Netball Association, English Ladies Golf Association, English Golf Union, England and Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football League, Rugby Football Union, Women's Rugby Football Union, British Waterski, Football Association (Women), English Karate Governing Body Ltd, and the British Orienteering Federation. In addition, the EIS is providing services to support British Gymnastics' non-Olympic disciplines of sports acrobatics and tumbling.
Sport: World Class Funding
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many athletes received World Class funding since the Sydney 2000 Olympics; and how many of these were selected for the Great Britain Olympic team for Athens 2004. [HL4444]
UK Sport has supported, through its World Class Performance Programme, a total of 619 summer Olympic sports athletes in the period April 2001 to April 2004. Of the 271 athletes that comprised Team GB, 210 were supported by UK Sport.
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many members of the Great Britain Olympic team for Athens 2004 did not receive any World Class funding; and which medals, if any, they won. [HL4445]
Of the 271 athletes that made up Team GB, 242 received World Class funding from either UK Sport or Sport England. All the medals won in Athens were achieved by athletes supported by World Class funding.
Paralympic Medals: Sydney 2000
asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the target Great Britain Paralympic medal tally on a sport-by-sport basis at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. [HL4447]
The information on the medal targets and performance for the Sydney 2000 Paralympics is shown in the following table:
| Target | Performance | |
| Archery | 0 | 3 |
| Athletics | 66 | 48 |
| Boccia | 1 | 1 |
| Cycling | 3 | 2 |
| Equestrian | 4 | 7 |
| Fencing | 1 | 0 |
| Goalball | 0 | 0 |
| Judo | 3 | 1 |
| Paraplegic Shooting | 3 | 2 |
| England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Total | |
| NOPES Budget | |||||
| Allocation | £581.25 million | £87 million | £48.75 million | £33.75 million | £750.75 million |
| Committed Funds | £336.9 million | £65.9 million | £35.4 million | £8.3 million | £446.5 million |
| Spend to date | £22.42 million | £13.81 million | £3.38 million | £0.49 million | £40.1 million |
National Lottery: Forecast Olympic Income
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the forecast income of the hypothecated Olympic Lottery Game for the years 2005 to 2012 on present projections; and whether this figure takes account of the liberalisation of the gambling laws proposed in the Gambling Bill. [HL4555]
Camelot's latest estimates of total income from hypothecated Olympic Lottery Games in the years 2005–12, as reviewed by the National Lottery Commission, is £779 million. This figure was arrived at with knowledge of the proposals in the Gambling Bill.
Nhs Foundation Trusts: Independent Regulator
asked Her Majesty's Government:In light of the Lyons report, why it is necessary for the office of the new Regulatory Authority for
Target
| Performance
| |
| Powerlifting | 3 | 3 |
| Sailing | 2 | 0 |
| Swimming | 52 | 62 |
| Table Tennis | 6 | 2 |
| Wheelchair Basketball | 1 | 0 |
| Wheelchair Rugby | 0 | 0 |
| Wheelchair Tennis | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 145 | 131 |
New Opportunities For Pe And Sport
asked Her Majesty's Government:What are the budget allocated, the amount awarded and the money spent by the New Opportunities Fund's £750 Million Physical Education and Sport Programme to date. [HL4523]
:Foundation Hospitals to be located in London SW1. [HL4549]
The establishment of NHS foundation trusts is an important step in delivering the strategy for reform of the NHS. Setting up the office of Monitor (whose statutory name is the independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) and authorising the first waves of NHS foundation trusts is a crucial part of implementing the policy.Monitor is an executive non-departmental public body and is by design a small organisation which employs fewer than 50 people. The decision on where to establish the organisation was a matter for the executive chairman, Dr William Moyes.Decisions on the location of other health arms-length bodies rests with the Department of Health.
Nhs Chaplaincy Service
asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 20 October (
WA86–7), when the project to look at practical ways in which National Health Service trusts can obtain patient consent in order to share information about patients with their chaplaincy teams will be completed; and whether the results will be published; and [HL4667]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 20 October ( WA87), whether the Department of Health or Birmingham and the Black Country Strategic Health Authority issued written guidance on the recording of the religious affirmation of its in-patients and the passing on of this information to National Health Service hospital chaplains within the trust's area to the Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull National Health Service Trust; and, if so, whether they will place a copy of such guidance in the Library of the House. [HL4668]
The project is expected to be completed during 2005 and the results will be made publicly available.The Department of Health issued written guidance to all National Health Service trusts in November 2003.A copy of the guidance,
NHS Chaplaincy: Meeting Religious and Spiritual Needs of Patients and Staff, has been placed in the Library.
A27
asked Her Majesty's Government:What proposals they have received from the Highways Agency to improve the A27 between Lewes and Polegate. [HL4516]
A scheme to improve the A27 at Beddingham was added to the Highways Agency's targeted programme of improvements in March. The next steps for this scheme will be the publication of draft orders under the Highways Act followed by the appointment of a contractor under the Highways Agency's early contractor involvement scheme.The Highways Agency has completed its studies of options at Selmeston and Wilmington on the A27 and a report is nearing completion.
Railways: Class 222 Meridian
asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the contingent public sector liability to fund the seven new Class 222 Meridian nine-car diesel-powered trains, ordered by National Express on the instruction of the Strategic Rail Authority and now reported to be surplus to current requirements. [HL4632]
There is no public sector liability in respect of the Class 222 Meridians. They were acquired through a private commercial arrangement between National Express Group and HSBC Rail. Should the trains prove surplus to requirements, it will be for the companies to decide what should be done with them.
High Accident Risk Roads
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they agree with the European Road Assistance Programme 2004 British road accident report that lists 11 high accident risk roads on which a total of 392 fatal or serious accidents were recorded in the period 2000–02; and whether imposing lower speed limits would significantly reduce the number and severity of such accidents. [HL4633]
The results of the European Road Assessment Programme 2004 report on British roads show that in addition to the 11 persistently high risk roads a further 17 road sections have joined the list of Britain's most improved roads published in 2003. The total number of sections of road in the higher risk categories has reduced by 46 per cent from 158 to 86. That there remain high risk roads is a matter of concern, but the results show that the application of simple engineering measures is highly effective at reducing crashes and casualties, with speed cameras making a contribution to this reduction on about half of the road sections. The introduction of lower speed limits in isolation is unlikely to be the solution, although highway authorities may consider this as part of a wider package of speed management measures when carrying out road safety assessments. My department will shortly consult on revised guidance to highway authorities on the setting of local speed limits. The guidance will include advice on how to assess the most appropriate speed limit on a particular road.
Passenger And Freight Transport
asked Her Majesty's Government:What percentage of (a) the total number of passengers and (b) the total amount of freight transported in the United Kingdom use road, rail, water and air transport systems; and what is the comparable government spending, as a percentage of gross domestic product, on these transport systems. [HL4637]
The table gives the percentage of total Great Britain trips made, the percentage of goods lifted in Great Britain, and central and local capital and current/resource government expenditure on each transport system, as a percentage of UK GDP:
| Percentage of GB passenger trips, 2002–031 | Percentage of GB goods lifted (tonnes), 20022 | Percentage of UK GDP spent on system 2002–033 | |
| Road (inc. bus) | 97 | 82 | 0.94 |
| Rail | 3 | 4 | 0.3 |
| Water | — | 75 | — |
| Air | — | — | — |
Note that'-'means less than half the last digit shown
1. Excludes pedestrian trips. Time period is average across calendar years 2002 and 2003.
2. The remaining 7 per cent of domestic goods lifted are carried by pipeline.
3. Excludes £1,022 million of government expenditure on transport (0.1 per cent of UK GDP) which cannot be identified by mode. The largest component of this in 2002–03 was the Greater London Assembly transport grant (£772 million).
4. Also includes expenditure on car parks, bus fuel duty rebates, local public transport and concessionary fares.
5. Includes all UK coastwise and one-port freight movements by sea, and inland waterway traffic.
Sources:
Passenger trips: National Travel Survey 2002, 2003.
Goods lifted: Transport Statistics Great Britain 2004 table 4.1
Percentage of UK GDP: ONS, Transport Statistics Great Britain 2004 table 1.15