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Police Training (Street Patrols)
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the minimum time period for elementary training of a police recruit before he or she is permitted to take part in a street patrol. [30454]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 29 January 2002]: Police recruits undertake supervised street patrol with a tutor constable on completion of their initial training, normally after 20 weeks' service and follows their foundation training course (15 weeks at National Police Training, and 18 weeks at Hendon for the Metropolitan police). This training equips recruits with the knowledge and skills to perform the full range of police duties, and is consolidated through further training in force during the remainder of the probationary period of two years. Most recruits are considered ready for unsupervised street patrol after 32 weeks' service.
Football
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answers of 25 January 2002 of the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn), Official Report, column 1112W, on football, if he will draw the attention of the Football Association to the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 in respect of its application to footballers and club officials; and if he will make a statement. [32080]
Mr. Denham: It is for the police and courts to enforce the measures introduced by the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 and the responsibility of the football authorities to determine whether or not to impose sporting sanctions in respect of player misbehaviour. The football authorities are aware that players are not exempt from the law of the land.
Theft and Fraud
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional security measures are planned by his Department to deter and detect theft and fraud. [31800]
Angela Eagle: The Home Office has a wide ranging set of procedures and/or plans to deter and detect theft and fraud:
- Fraud Strategy
- An updated Home Office Fraud Strategy, Policy and Response Plan is in the final stages of consultation before being promulgated across the Office.
- Existing advice and guidance on fraud and theft is formally documented.
- Whistle-blowing
- A documented departmental policy already exists and conforms to Cabinet Office guidance.
- Risk Management
- A Home Office Risk Management Team is now firmly established.
- It is facilitating a risk management programme across the office.
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- Annual Systems Assurance Statements (ASAS)
- A system of annual assurance statements operates with the purpose of providing an assurance to the Departmental Accounting Officer (DAO) from delegated budget holders on the adequacy and effectiveness of their systems of internal financial control.
- As part of ASAS 2001 Directors signed up to specific statements on counter-fraud and corporate governance and risk management, respectively.
- Corporate Governance Assurance Statements (CGAS)
- CGAS reports are provided to the DAO by the Accounting Officers (AOs) of the Prison Service, Forensic Science Service and the Passport Records Agency.
- Internal Control—Audit and Assurance Unit (AAU)
- The Chief Internal Auditor provides an assurance to the DAO on the corporate governance framework and systems of internal control in the financial and operational systems across the wider Home Office through the internal audit programme which is based on an analysis of risk and priority.
- In undertaking this work auditors consider the risk of fraud and report on this, as appropriate.
- A high proportion of internal audit resource is dedicated to the Home Office's key financial systems and the Department's Agencies and NDPBs.
- Internal Control—Other
- Staff are expected to comply with the Finance Manual and other procedures that are issued by Accounts Branch from time to time.
- Members of staff are not allowed to accept gifts, hospitality or benefits in kind as these could lead to a perception of a conflict of interest and/or of impropriety and guidance on this is available in the Staff Handbook.
- Service level agreements between Directors/Chief Executives and the Departmental Security Officer underline the importance of protecting valuable assets and this is reinforced through security awareness training and publicity campaigns.
- Staff are encouraged to lock away items such as lap-tops, mobile telephones and personal valuables.
- Where there are guard patrols out of hours, guards are asked to check for unprotected assets and make them safe. This is reinforced by random sweeps by the Departmental Security Unit.
- Authority to remove equipment is given by Heads of Unit and checked on exit by guards. There are also random checks of vehicles on exit.
Departmental Salary Costs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit in 2001–02 will be accounted for by salary costs and pension contributions. [32002]
Angela Eagle: Following the winter supplementary estimate, the total departmental expenditure limit for the Home Office stood at £9,862,267,000.
Salary and pension costs accounted for £1,702,987,000 or 17.25 per cent. of the department expenditure limit.
Passports
Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many increases there have been in the cost of passports in the past 10 years; and what those increases have been. [32244]
Angela Eagle: There have been four increases to the cost of passports in the past 10 years. In November 1992, March 1998, December 1999 and the last recent increase in January of this year. The increases are as follows:
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Fee increase November 1992
The adult fee increased by £3 from £15 to £18.
The child fee also increased by £3 from £15 to £18, but with a free renewal provided after five years.
Fee increase March 1998
The adult fee increased by £3 to £21.
The child fee became £11 for a five year issue, replacing the £18 fee for a 10 year issue which was then renewed free of charge after five years.
Amendments increased by £6 to £11.
Jumbo passports increased by £4 to £31.
An additional counter fee of £10 was introduced.
Fee increase December 1999
The adult fee increased by £7 to £28.
The child fee increased by £3.80 to £14.80 and became compulsory.
Amendments increased by £6 to £17.
Jumbo passports increased by £7 to £38.
The additional counter fee increased by £2 to £12.
Fee increase January 2002
The adult fee increased by £2 to £30.
The child fee increased by £1.20 to £16.
Amendments increased by £1 to £18.
Jumbo passports increased by £2 to £40.
The additional counter fee increased by £3 to £15.
The fee for a collective passport, for organised trips for schools and youth groups increased by £2 to £42.
Two new services were also introduced in January of this year. A one week guaranteed service now costs an additional £15 and a same day premium service, an additional £30.
Prison Service
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether additional financial commitments for the Prison Service resulting from the Prison Service pay review will be met through additional central Government funding; and if he will make a statement. [32551]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 1 February 2002]: This award will be contained within existing departmental expenditure limits. It will be funded by an adjustment to current Prison Service spending plans in the latter part of 2001–02 and during 2002–03. For example, some maintenance of the prison estate will be re-scheduled to take place later. Efficiency savings made from the wider Home Office budget will also contribute to the cost. Prison Service funding for 2003–04 onwards will be determined by the 2002 Spending Review process.
Non-Human Primates
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in (a) establishing an EU register of non-human primates in breeding, supply and research establishments and (b) enforcing minimum standards of housing and care across member states; and if he will make a statement. [32629]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 4 January 2002]: We understand that the European Commission has no plans at present to establish such a register.
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The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate monitors the implementation of minimum standards, as set out in published codes of practice, for the housing and care of animals bred, supplied and used for scientific procedures in designated establishments in Great Britain. Standards in designated Northern Ireland establishments are similarly monitored under separate inspection arrangements.
We are unable to comment on enforcement of minimum standards of housing and care in European Union (EU) states other than the United Kingdom, (UK) as set out in Annexe A of Directive 86/609/EEC, as that is not the responsibility of the UK Government.
The Home Office is playing a leading role in discussions within the Council of Europe that are expected to determine future, improved European provisions for the accommodation of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps have been taken to ensure that non-designated overseas breeding and supply establishments of non-human primates supplying the UK are complying with the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals in Designated Breeding and Supply Establishments; and if he will make a statement; [32630]
- (2) how often non-designated overseas breeding and supply establishments of non-human primates supplying the UK are inspected in person by members of the Home Office Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement; [32631]
(3) how many wild-caught non-human primates, by (a) species and (b) purpose of procedure, are in UK facilities designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [32628]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 24 January 2002]: The Home Office does not maintain a register of stock held at designated establishments, but there are no current project licences in force for the use of wild caught non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Non-designated overseas breeding and supply establishments do not comply fully with the provisions of the United Kingdom (UK) Code of Practice, which are considered by many to be the most stringent in the world. Overseas breeders who wish to supply animals for use in the United Kingdom are, however, expected to comply with the guidelines issued by the International Primate Society, and are visited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate, both prior to acceptance to supply non-human primates for use in the United Kingdom, and periodically thereafter.
Two sets of visits to particular overseas breeding and supply establishments were undertaken in the period October to December 2001. In addition all establishments currently supplying the UK have been visited during the last three years.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds the ban on the use of great apes in research and testing in the UK was made; and if he will make a statement. [32632]
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Angela Eagle [holding answer 4 January 2002]: In announcing, in November 1997, that the Government would not allow the future use of great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, pygmy gorillas, and orang-utans) as laboratory animals, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained that this was a matter of morality. The cognitive and behavioural characteristics and qualities of these animals are such that it is unethical to treat them as expendable for research.
This policy was set out in the Supplementary Note to the Home Secretary's response to the Animal Procedures Committee interim report on the review of the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Copies of this document were deposited in the Library.
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