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24 Jan 2008 : Column 2147W—continued
DEFRA collects data annually from local authorities on Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs). FPNs can be issued by local authorities for graffiti and fly-posting offences. A FPN can be offered as an alternative to prosecution but prosecution can still be taken in instances of non-payment of a FPN. Police Community Support Officers can issue FPNs if they have the relevant approval; such notices are issued on a local authority’s behalf, and are incorporated into the local authority’s figures. For ease of reference, nil returns have been omitted from the following tables, which include the number of prosecutions taken following non-payment of FPNs.
| FPNs for graffiti | |
| Offence: graffiti | |
| Local authority | Prosecutions following non payment |
| FPNs for fly-posting | |
| Offence: fly-posting | |
| Local authority | Prosecutions following non payment |
The House Library has been furnished with data on prosecutions and fixed penalty notices issued for other offences under the relevant legislation.
The data are also currently published online.
Firearms
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to attend the summit on Firearms Law Reform. [181090]
Mr. Coaker: I am currently considering a letter about the proposed summit and will respond shortly to the Scottish Executive.
Forensic Science Service
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Forensic Science Service in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what staff turnover was in each such year. [173602]
Meg Hillier [holding answer 13 December 2007]: The Forensic Science Service has supplied the information in the following table.
| FSS headcount and s taff turnover | ||
| Average number of staff in year | Percentage turnover (leavers/av staff x 100) | |
| Source s : 2002-03, 2003-04, 2006-07: Annual report 2004-05, 2005-06: Performance report | ||
Passports: Fraud
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fraudulent passport applications were made in the last 12 months; and how many of those applications involved (a) identity theft and (b) false declarations where the individual was otherwise entitled to a passport. [171127]
Meg Hillier: Because of the nature of fraud it is only possible to estimate the number of fraudulent passport applications the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) receives.
During the period 31 October 2005 to 30 September 2006, a sample of several thousand applications were scrutinised by specialist IPS teams with support from fraud investigators. This found that 0.25 per cent. of applications (or 16,500 cases) were believed to be from people attempting to obtain a passport fraudulently when they were not entitled to them. In a further 1.61 per cent. of applications (or 105,000 cases) there was some element of false declaration on the part of passport applicants but the identity of these individuals and their eligibility for passport services was not otherwise in doubt.
It must be emphasised that these figures are an estimate and the result of one sampling exercise. IPS does, however, intend to undertake sampling of this type routinely and is currently engaged in a second exercise which is due to complete by April 2008.
It is because of this level of attempted fraud that IPS has introduced over recent years such measures as checking identity information against public and private sector databases and interviews for adult first time passport applicants.
Police: Forensic Science Service
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what obligations her Department places on police forces and authorities in relation to the procurement of forensic science services. [173598]
Meg Hillier
[holding answer 13 December 2007]: Procurement of forensic services is a matter for
individual police forces. The Home Office has placed no obligations on forces or authorities in relation to that procurement.
Terrorism: Cumbria
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will commission research to identify sites in Cumbria which may be used for illegal purposes within the meaning of the Terrorism Act 2006. [180201]
Mr. McNulty [holding answer 21 January 2008]: We have no plans to do so.
Transport
Dartford Tunnel: Fees and Charges
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis it was decided which local areas to include in her consultation on the Dartford river crossing local discount scheme; if she will include Castle Point residents in that consultation; when the consultation will begin and end; whether the consultation will include public meetings; and how the consultation will be conducted. [179249]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 22 January 2008]: A consultation on a discount scheme for local residents will be announced shortly and our detailed proposals wilt be set out in that document.
We have no plans to hold public meetings but the consultation document will be widely available via our website, and we will welcome responses from all interested parties regardless of where they live.
Departmental ICT
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) start date, (b) original planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and (e) current estimated cost is for each information technology project being undertaken by her Department and its agencies; and if she will make a statement. [180575]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport is currently undertaking a number of IT projects to enable us to provide better services to our customers or improve the efficiency of our operations. Detailed information in the form requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information on the key IT projects that are monitored and reported on centrally under the DfT's Investment Appraisal Framework is set out as follows.
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