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Terrorism: Extradition of British Citizens
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No British citizens have been extradited for terrorist-related activities since 2001.
Religious Hatred: Incitement
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
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Whether there is a problem of incitement to religious hatred in England and Wales; what is their estimate of the extent of the problem; and upon what data the estimate is based. [HL168]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government recognise that the stirring up of hatred against people because of their religious beliefs represents a real problem in England and Wales. Since the events of September 2001 in particular there has been clear evidence of words and behaviour from a small minority being used to stir up hatred against religious groups. Following the introduction of the offences of incitement to racial hatred there has also been evidence that extremists use religious terms to identify the targets of their threatening, abusive and insulting words and behaviour, to avoid prosecution were they to use racial terms to identify the same people. In evidence to the House of Lords Select Committee on Religious Offences, which reported in April 2003, several organisations, including Association of Chief Police Officers and representatives of faith communities, gave examples of this type of activity.
Prisoners: Reoffending
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many early release prisoners in England and Wales have reoffended, whether under licence or not, in the last five years for which figures are available. [HL268]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The available data relate to the reconviction rate of all prisoners. The table below shows the reconviction rate of all prisoners, within two years of discharge, according to the length of original sentence.
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Stolen Goods: Sale
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
20 Dec 2004 : Column WA124- the report on the workings of the Act submitted to them by the county council. [HL277]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The report from Kent and Medway councils in conjunction with Kent
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County Constabulary was received on 10 November 2004. It will be laid before Parliament before the Recess.
We are now considering how best to tackle the sale of stolen goods via second-hand goods outlets. This is part of a wider programme of work to make it harder, riskier and less rewarding to thieves to hold and dispose of stolen goods.
Roma and Kurds: Immigration Criteria
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria immigration officials use to determine whether an individual seeking to enter the United Kingdom is (a) a Roma or (b) a Kurd; and for which other people ethnicity is a special consideration for entry to the United Kingdom. [HL314]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Immigration officers are not permitted to use ethnic or national origin as a basis for affording extra scrutiny to passengers seeking to enter the United Kingdom unless specifically authorised to do so by a Minister. All applications for entry are carefully considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules (HC 395 as amended). The ministerial authorisation of April 2001 which allowed immigration officers to subject passengers from certain specified ethnic or national groups (including Roma and Kurds) to more rigorous scrutiny was removed on 11 June 2002.
Alcohol: Under-age Drinking
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations the Home Secretary has received from Peter Marks, Chief Executive Officer of United Co-operatives, concerning under-age drinking and alcohol purchase; what reply has been sent; and whether any future action is being considered. [HL179]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Peter Marks wrote to the Home Secretary outlining the measures that United Co-operatives is taking to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors. This letter was received on 22 October and we will reply shortly. The Government welcome the work already being done with the alcohol industry to prevent the sale of alcohol to under-18s, and we will continue to work closely with the industry to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder through a social responsibility scheme, and to consider legislation to give police further powers to close licensed premises serving under-age drinkers.
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Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they have made to the observations of Mr Paul Evans, Head of the Police Standards Unit, that crime and disorder in the form of violence outside pubs and clubs threaten to overwhelm the police. [HL126]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government continue to implement their Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England and are working closely with the police service to support it in tackling alcohol related crime and disorder. The Government also support other agencies to ensure that a partnership approach is taken locally, with the police, to tackle the harm caused by alcohol, and are working with the industry on a social responsibility scheme. The Government have also put in place legislation to strengthen enforcement work by the police and its partners and have put in place conditions relating to the prevention of crime and disorder in the Licensing Act 2003.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the view expressed by the Nottinghamshire Chief Constable and other senior police officers, that the level of alcohol is related to the level of crime and disorder, and alcohol consumption levels have diverted police resources from outlying areas of towns and cities. [HL127]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government recognise that there is a link between the irresponsible sale and consumption of alcohol and crime and disorder. We are working closely with the police service to ensure that they have access to the tactics and knowledge that they need to tackle alcohol related violence and anti social behaviour. The lessons learned from the summer Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign have been captured and disseminated to all basic command units and crime and disorder reduction partnerships. However, the deployment of officers is an operational decision for chief officers and will be determined by an intelligence-led assessment of local requirements.
The Government also acknowledge that enforcement is not the only answer, and that a more holistic approach to tackling the misuse of alcohol is neeeded if we are to challenge current attitudes to drinking. That is why we launched the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England on 15 March 2004 which outlines a programme of work based on 41 recommendations covering actions on prevention, communication, education and identification and treatment to tackle alcohol misuse and ensure that both consumers and retailers have a healthy and responsible attitude to alcohol.
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