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20 Dec 2010 : Column 1084W—continued
Social Rented Housing
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the median income was of a household in (a) the social rented sector, (b) the private rented sector and (c) owner-occupied accommodation in (i) South Lanarkshire and (ii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency (A) before and (B) after housing costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [29524]
Steve Webb: We use households below average income data to provide estimates of median incomes. However, the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for low-level geographies such as those requested.
The following table shows the median equivalised disposable household income by tenure for Scotland, before and after housing costs.
| Table 1: Median equivalised disposable household income, for households, by tenure for Scotland, three year average 2006-07 to 2008-09, before and after housing costs | ||
| Median equivalised disposable household income for households | ||
| Tenure Type | BHC | AHC |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for HBAI figures is single financial years. For countries and regions within the UK, three survey years have been combined as single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. Incomes are presented in 2008-09 prices and have been rounded to the nearest pound sterling. 5. Families are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children, including same sex couples (civil partnerships and cohabitees) from January 2006. A household is made up of one or more families and is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation (i.e. a living room). In line with the wording of the question, analysis has been carried out at the household level. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2006-07 to 2008-09. | ||
Social Rented Housing: Reform
Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the outcomes were of his recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the likely effects on the social rented housing market of his Department's proposed welfare reforms. [30931]
Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) continue to hold regular discussions at ministerial and official level on the development of policies where there is a shared interest.
The Department has made no assessment of the likely effects on the social housing market of its proposed welfare reforms. We shall publish an impact assessment on the proposed changes to housing benefit for social sector tenants from 2013 to accompany the relevant legislation when introduced in Parliament.
Social Rented Housing: Edinburgh
Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the median income was of a household in (a) the social rented sector, (b) the private rented sector and (c) owner-occupied accommodation in Edinburgh East constituency (i) before and (ii) after housing costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [29536]
Steve Webb: We use households below average income data to provide estimates of median incomes. However, the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for low-level geographies such as those requested.
The following table shows the median equivalised disposable household income by tenure for Scotland, before and after housing costs.
| Median equivalised disposable household income, for households, by tenure for Scotland, three year average 2006-07 to 2008-09, before and after housing costs | ||
| Median equivalised disposable household income for households | ||
| Tenure type | BHC | AHC |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on households below average income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for HBAI figures is single financial years. For countries and regions within the UK, three survey years have been combined as single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. Incomes are presented in 2008-09 prices and have been rounded to the nearest pound sterling. 5. Families are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children, including same sex couples (civil partnerships and cohabitees) from January 2006. A household is made up of one of more families and is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation (ie a living room). In line with the wording of the question, analysis has been carried out at the household level. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2006-07 to 2008-09 | ||
Social Rented Housing: Scotland
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the median household income was of a family in (a) the social rented sector, (b) the private rented sector and (c) owner-occupied accommodation in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency (i) including and (ii) excluding housing costs in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available. [30117]
Steve Webb: We use Households Below Average Income data to provide estimates of median incomes. However, the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide estimates for low-level geographies such as those requested.
The following table shows the median equivalised disposable household income by tenure for Scotland, before and after housing costs.
| Table 1: Median equivalised disposable household income, for families, by tenure for Scotland, three year average 2006-07 to 2008-09, before and after housing costs | ||
| Median equivalised disposable household income for families | ||
| Tenure Type | BHC | AHC |
| Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for HBAI figures is single financial years. For countries and regions within the UK, three survey years have been combined as single year estimates are subject to volatility. 4. Incomes are presented in 2008/09 prices and have been rounded to the nearest pound sterling. 5. Families are defined as a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children, including same sex couples (civil partnerships and cohabitees) from January 2006. A household is made up of one of more families and is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation (i.e. a living room). In line with the wording of the question, analysis has been carried out at the family level. Source: Households Below Average Income (HBAI) 2006-07 to 2008-09 | ||
Social Security Benefits: Armed Forces
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households of armed forces personnel in receipt of each benefit paid by his Department. [29027]
Chris Grayling: The information is not available.
Social Security Benefits: Brighton
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of local housing allowance who have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months are resident in Brighton, Pavilion constituency. [31357]
Steve Webb: The information is not available.
At present geographic breakdowns are only available for local authorities and regions. However, an exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the data: this will include parliamentary constituencies.
Social Security Benefits: Widowed People
Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether higher rate taxpayers will continue to be eligible for widowed parent's allowance when they lose their entitlement to child benefit. [31111]
Steve Webb: Higher rate taxpayers will continue to be eligible for widowed parent's allowance following the forthcoming changes to child benefit.
State Retirement Pensions
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) receive and (b) contribute to a pension under the state savings related pension scheme. [30834]
Steve Webb: The information is as follows:
(a) 8,814,100 people were in receipt of additional pension payable under the state earnings related pension or the state second pension schemes in March 2010.
(b) 23,224,000 people accrued some additional pension under the state second pension scheme in the 2007-08 tax year.
Notes:
1. The state earnings-related pension (SERPS) scheme operated from 1978 to 2001 inclusive. It was replaced with the state second pension (S2P) in 2002.
2. The figure in part (a) refers to claimants resident in Great Britain, and is rounded to the nearest hundred individuals.
3. The figure in part (b) is rounded to the nearest thousand individuals. It includes employees who were contracted-out of SERPS, but accrued some S2P by virtue of class 1 earnings-that is, contracted-out employees accruing some "S2P top-up". It also includes people who accrued S2P through home responsibilities protection or through credits because of their inability to work. The latest data available are for the tax year 2007-08, and are provisional.
Source:
DWP, Information Directorate, 5% sample administrative data and Lifetime Labour Market Database 1% sample of the National Insurance Recording System.
Unemployed People
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health in respect of support needed for people who are moved off benefit but not into work; and if he will make a statement. [29775]
Chris Grayling: I have had no discussions with the Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), on this specific issue although our Departments work closely together on the Government's new approach to public health and NHS reform plans.
There are a number of reasons why people move off benefits but do not move into employment, for example, many people leave benefits to take up a course of education or training. We are working closely with the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to encourage the take-up of skills provision through the development of appropriate training that meets the needs of both individuals and local employers to help move unemployed people into work.
Under our commitment to reassess all existing customers currently in receipt of incapacity benefit to ensure they get the right help and support to find work, we expect many people will be found fit for work and moved off incapacity benefit. They will be able to claim jobseeker's allowance rather than leave benefits altogether. When on jobseeker's allowance they will receive enhanced personal support and flexible provision to help improve their employability.
The Work Choice programme, which provides intensive support for disabled people with more complex barriers to finding and staying in employment, is available to disabled people-provided they are both eligible and suitable-regardless of any benefits being claimed. Non benefit recipients can also access some Jobcentre Plus services such as using Jobcentre Plus job points to help them find employment.
Welsh Language
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department last published a Welsh language scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993; and at which web addresses these can be accessed in (a) Welsh and (b) English. [31172]
Chris Grayling: The Department published its current Welsh language scheme on 6 August 2010. The scheme can be accessed on the web address for the Department for Work and Pensions as follows:
The scheme has also been published on the Welsh Language Board's website: Welsh version:
Winter Fuel Payments: Ex-servicemen
Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of incorporating winter fuel payments into the War Pension Scheme for armed forces veterans; and if he will make a statement. [30250]
Steve Webb:
Winter fuel payments are made to most people, including some 75% of war pensioners in the war pension scheme, who have reached state pension age for women and are ordinarily resident in the UK.
Older people are targeted because they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of cold weather during the winter months.
In the spending review of 20 October 2010 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), announced that the winter fuel payment will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government. We have no plans to extend the payment to people below the present qualifying age.
Work Capability Assessment
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of communication and feedback between Jobcentre Plus, Atos Healthcare and the First-tier Tribunal to improve the quality of decision-making relating to work capability assessments; and if he will make a statement. [29774]
Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question about what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of communication and feedback between Jobcentre Plus, Atos Healthcare and the First-tier Tribunal to improve the quality of decision making relating to work capability assessments. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
As recommended in the independent review led by Professor Malcolm Harrington, Jobcentre Plus is working closely with Atos and the Tribunal Service to ensure that decisions are made as quickly and efficiently as possible. We are constantly seeking to improve the quality of our decisions and appeal responses and are currently testing a range of new measures to improve the dissemination of best practice and ensure more decisions are right first time. An example of this is our arrangements for representatives of the three organisations to meet at a regional level on a quarterly basis. This will enable an exchange of views and information which Jobcentre Plus managers will use to review and improve the quality of decision making, including those involving Work Capability Assessments.
In addition to this, we are building on existing good practices to develop more effective working relationships through a number of joint initiatives. These include quarterly meetings at regional level between representatives of the three organisations, the regular provision by Atos healthcare professionals of advice and support to Jobcentre Plus Decision Makers and Appeals staff and the use of feedback from the Tribunals Service to improve decision making.
Work Programme
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what recent progress his Department has made on delivering the Work Programme; [31978]
(2) when he expects to launch the Work Programme. [31977]
Chris Grayling: The Department has recently published an updated Work Programme Prospectus to clarify further details of the policy design and commercial arrangements of the Work Programme, and intends to publish the Work Programme Invitation to Tender before the end of December, to ensure the commercial process remains on track.
We intend to roll out the Work Programme nationally by summer 2011.
Work Programme: Glasgow
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 November 2010, Official Report, column 9, on the Work Programme, what enhanced support will be provided to (1) single parents in Glasgow between the end of support provided through employment zones on 31 December 2010 and the launch of the Work programme; [31975]
(2) long-term claimants of jobseeker's allowance in Glasgow between the end of (a) referrals to and (b) support through employment zones on 31 December 2010 and the launch of the Work Programme. [31976]
Chris Grayling: We want to ensure that as many people benefit from the Work Programme as soon as possible, and will launch the Work Programme as soon as providers are ready to start delivery in each contract package area. We aim to have the new Work Programme in place nationally by the summer of 2011.
We are determined to ensure that there is continuity of provision, and that the transition to the Work Programme does not leave any customer unsupported. Therefore, new deal and employment zone contracts will be extended until June 2011, ensuring that customers referred to these programmes in March will be supported until the summer, by which time the Work Programme will have been rolled out.
Customers, including lone parents on income support and those on jobseeker's allowance, will have access to flexible support delivered through Jobcentre Plus, including volunteering opportunities and help with basic skills or job-search techniques, before their referral to the Work Programme. In some areas additional support will also be available, so customers can access work experience, or take advantage of peer-to-peer support. Lone parents will not be referred to the Work Programme as long as they are in receipt of income support.
Once the Work Programme has been launched, jobseeker allowance customers facing significant disadvantage, for example long-term benefit claimants, ex offenders, or young people with significant barriers to work, will be offered early access to the Work Programme at three months, to ensure they have access to the necessary support as soon as possible.
Home Department
Addison Lee
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) her Department and (b) its agencies contract services from Addison Lee. [30849]
Nick Herbert: The Home Department and its agencies do not hold contracts with the Addison Lee private hire taxi company. Records show that over the last 12 months the Department did on one occasion hire a coach from the company.
Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Reading Berkshire
Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders were issued to people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 years or over in the criminal justice area covering Reading in each of the last 10 years. [31255]
James Brokenshire:
Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) became available on 1 April 1999. The latest available
published data, compiled by the Ministry of Justice, on the number of ASBOs issued covers the period 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2008. Reading is within the Thames Valley Criminal Justice System (CJS) area.
The number of ASBOs issued at all courts in the Thames Valley CJS area in each year, by age group, between 1 April 1999 and 31 December 2008 is shown in the following table.
ASBO data covering the period up to the end of 2009 is due to be published on 25 January 2011.
| Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts( 1) in the Thames Valley Criminal Justice System (CJS) area as reported to the Ministry of Justice( 2) by the Court Service by age group, 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2008 | |||||||||||
| Thames Valley | |||||||||||
| ASBOs | |||||||||||
| Age group( 3) | Total issued | April 1999 to May 2000 | June to December 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| n/a = Not available (1) Includes ASBOs issued on application by magistrates courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which became available on 1 April 1999 and ASBOs made following conviction for a relevant criminal offence at the Crown court and at magistrates courts (acting in their criminal capacity), which became available on 2 December 2002. (2) Prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice on 9 May 2007, numbers of ASBOs issued were reported to Home Office by the Court Service. (3) No age details available for the period April 1999 to May 2000. Note: 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. 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. | |||||||||||
Borders: Personal Records
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the adequacy of her Department's strategy for procuring new services for the e-Borders programme from commercial suppliers of such services against the programme's value for money objectives. [31234]
Damian Green: Since the e-Borders contract with Raytheon Systems was terminated on 22 July 2010, the e-Borders programme has been pursuing a strategy to procure services to replace those due under the original contract.
Engagement with suppliers always includes an assessment of the value for money considerations of their proposals. The Government are committed to the e-Borders programme and in line with Office of Government Commerce guidelines will continue to scrutinise potential suppliers' ability to provide the systems and services required. This scrutiny ensures delivery of Government objectives consistent with business requirements of the e-borders programme, while delivering value for money.
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the value for money of recent procurement exercises for e-Borders contracts. [31235]
Damian Green: Since the termination of the contract with the prime supplier, Raytheon Systems Limited, the e-Borders programme has been securing the services and systems that are currently in operation. Alongside this, a strategy to procure services to replace those that were due to be delivered under the original e-Borders contract has been developed. The programme is currently examining options for contracting with new suppliers and expects to be able to set out agreed next steps in the new year. All options for future services include a rigorous assessment of value for money.
Departmental Conferences
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's annual budget for conferences was at (a) 7 May 2010 and (b) 7 December 2010. [30029]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not set budgets for spend on conferences. However, as with all activities of this nature, we are working to reduce the amount we spend and overall will be reducing our administration budget by one third by the end of the Spending Review period. Where conferences do take place the Home Office constantly seeks to ensure that any conferences that it organises are both necessary, and provide good value for money for the taxpayer.
Departmental Grants
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the monetary value of grants awarded by her Department was in 2009-10; and how much she expects to award in grants in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; [27260]
(2) what grants have been awarded by her Department in 2010-11 to date; what grants she plans to award in each of the next two years; what the monetary value is of each such grant; and to which organisations such grants are made. [27263]
Nick Herbert: The total of grants awarded in 2009-10 was £8 billion, which included £4.7 billion in Police General Grant.
We expect to award around £8 billion in grants in 2010-11, which includes £4.7 billion in Police General Grant.
The Department is currently conducting an internal allocation exercise which will decide the future of individual grants within the overall spending review settlement for the Home Office. We will notify grant recipients on the future of these funding streams as soon as possible.
Detail on 2011-12 funding allocations for all police forces was announced on 13 December when the provisional police settlements were placed before the House of Commons.
We expect to award grants worth around £8 billion in 2010-11. This figure is as at accounting period seven.
Around £6.9 billion has been awarded for the purposes of crime reduction and policing, as set out in the tables placed in the House Library.
Around £200 million has been awarded from the UK Border Agency, as set out in the tables placed in the House Library.
Around £870 million has been awarded from the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism. This is awarded to a mixture of central Government bodies, local authorities, the police and voluntary sector organisations.
For reasons of national security, we cannot provide the detailed breakdown.
The Department is currently conducting an internal allocation exercise which will decide the future of individual grants within the overall spending review settlement for the Home Office. We will notify grant recipients on the future of these funding streams as soon as possible.
Departmental Leave
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what programmes (a) her Department and (b) its agencies have in place to reduce the number of working days lost through sickness and other forms of absence. [30354]
Nick Herbert: In spring 2009 the Home Office and its agencies introduced new sickness absence policies and supporting guidance to promote the effective management of sickness absence by line managers. Stretching three year targets were also introduced to achieve significant reductions in sickness absence by March 2013.
The policies include a requirement for managers to conduct return to work interviews after every instance of sickness absence. Allowing for exceptional circumstances, mandatory warnings are given to staff whose level of absence exceeds pre-defined limits.
A new online recording system automatically prompts line managers when further interventions are required and enables senior managers to monitor whether these are taking place. The system also enables all absences to be tracked and accurate management information to be collated.
In addition, a Wellbeing strategy has been developed to promote the physical and mental health of staff. Events have been held around the country to promote the range of support services which are available to staff. Managers have access to professional occupational health advice as necessary. Staff have direct access to a 24 hour/365 day confidential Employee Assistance programme providing support, advice and counselling on a range of personal issues.
These policies have enabled the Department to reduce sickness absence month on month over the past 16 months.
Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) sickness and (b) unauthorised absence among staff in her Department and its agencies in the latest period for which figures are available. [30417]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office has put in place strict new policies for reducing sickness absence, which has produced month by month falls in the levels of sickness absence over the last 16 months. The total cost of sickness absence is therefore coming down, and the latest estimates of cost for the 33,000 employees of the Home Office and its agencies was £28.16 million for the 12 months ending June 2010. That remains, however, too high and the plan is to reduce it further.
In respect of unauthorised absence, employees who are absent from work without authorisation and fail to report their absence within 24 hours will be classed as absent without leave (AWOL). Employees who fail to make contact within five working days will have their salary withheld until further notice and are dealt with under the misconduct procedure. The number of staff classed as AWOL is small and we do not hold data relating to this type of absence centrally.
Calculating the cost of unauthorised absence could therefore be done only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Press: Subscriptions
Mr Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much (a) her Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible spent on press cuttings services in each of the last 12 months. [25487]
Nick Herbert: The Department's expenditure, including that of its executive agencies and executive non-departmental public bodies, is set out in the table.
Figures quoted are inclusive of VAT and include all National Licensing Authority Fees. Extracting these costs would result in the PQ becoming unanswerable due to disproportionate cost.
All expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
| Expenditure on press cutting service | ||||||||||
| Rounded to nearest £ | ||||||||||
| National Policing Improvement Agency | Independent Safeguarding Authority | Independent Police Complaints Commission | Security Industry Authority | Serious and Organised Crime Agency | Criminal Records Bureau | Identity and Passport Service | Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner | UK Border Agency | Home Office HQ | |
| (1) Indicates a brace. | ||||||||||
Departmental Procurement
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible have taken to comply with the Guidance of the Office of Government Commerce on promoting skills through public procurement issued in 2009. [31327]
Nick Herbert: The Home Department including its agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) fully supports the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) guidance on promoting skills through public procurement and furthering the Government's aim of improving the skills within their supplier community.
The OGC guidance has been issued to the Home Department's entire procurement community including its agencies and NDPBs advising them that there are opportunities to embed skills and apprenticeships at all stages in the procurement process.
As part of the Department's Supplier Relationship Management programme, workshops have been held with key suppliers to discuss various initiatives including work force skills. Subsequently, suppliers undertaking contracts for the Department who attended a conference, were asked to provide data as to the number of apprentices engaged on the Department's business.
Additionally, the Department uses a web-based toolkit known as CAESER. The toolkit is used to assess the risk within the supply chain and includes the collation of information on suppliers' policies and practices with regards to work force skills. Suppliers are asked to complete the assessment toolkit on an annual basis and the data is made available to commercial managers. The current exercise concludes on 31 December.
DNA: Databases
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when her Department plans to implement proposals to destroy DNA records of those who have not been convicted of any crime; [31242]
(2) when her Department plans to introduce its proposed new system for holding DNA samples. [31243]
James Brokenshire: We will bring forward a package of proposals on DNA retention in the Freedom Bill. These proposals will build on our commitment to adopt the protections of the Scottish model.
We are working with the police service so that our proposals can be implemented as soon as possible after they have received parliamentary approval.
Domestic Violence
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many multi-agency risk assessment conferences there have been in (a) each region of England and (b) Wales in each year since 2005. [31263]
Lynne Featherstone:
The data for Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) were not centrally collected until 2009 and no figures exist on meetings
held before 2008. The data presented reflect information from MARACs returning data for the purpose of recording MARAC activity including recording repeat incidents of domestic violence, and this may not cover all MARACs. However, the latest figures are considered to be a reasonably
reliable guide by Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA) who are the charity collecting this information. The following table is a summary of the information available broken down by region:
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | ||||
| Region | Number of MARACs | Total number of meetings | Number of MARACs | Total number of meetings | Number of MARACs | Total number of meetings |
| Notes: 1. The numbers are taken from the end of March 2008, 2009, 2010 for the previous 12 months, where a MARAC had been sending in data for less than 12 months, the numbers are the totals to date. 2. CAADA does not have a record of data for MARACs held before 2007. 3. CAADA does not have data from any London MARAC before 2008. 4. Although data recorded do not comprehensively cover all MARACs, and figures will have been influenced by improved reporting rates over this period, it is reasonable to assume that the increase in number of meetings and MARACs returning data does also indicate an increase in total numbers of MARACs in operation. | ||||||
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many independent domestic violence advisers were employed in (a) each region of England and (b) Wales in each year since 2005. [31264]
Lynne Featherstone: This information is not collected centrally as independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) can be employed and funded by a range of different organisations. We do know that since 2004 over 900 IDVA training places have been provided by the charity Coordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse.
Driving under Influence: Drugs
Mr Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make an assessment of the suitability for use by police forces of roadside drug testing equipment used by the German police. [31058]
James Brokenshire: Any equipment for use by the police in this country must be of a type approved by the Secretary of State. Type approval is granted on the basis of compliance with a specification which sets out the detailed requirements a device has to meet and the testing regime which it has to pass to be suitable for use in British operational conditions and within the British legal framework. We hope to issue very shortly the specification for a device for use in a police station and are continuing work towards the specification for a roadside device. It will be for manufacturers to submit for testing and approval any devices which they think meet the specification.
EC External Trade: India
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received from EU institutions on migration of workers from India to the UK as part of the EU's free trade agreement with India. [27822]
Damian Green: The Home Office has not received any representations from the EU institutions concerning the EU-India free trade agreement.
Any contact between Her Majesty's Government and the EU on the negotiation of such agreements is a matter for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. They then consult with other Government Departments, including the Home Office, as they did on this agreement.
Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates of sponsorship have been awarded in each of the last five years; and how many have been awarded under tier 2 of the points-based system since May 2010. [31078]
Damian Green: Tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system were introduced on 27 November 2008.
The number of Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) that have been issued by Tier 2 and 5 sponsors is as follows:
| Numbers of CoS issued | |
Since 1 May 2010 to 10 December 2010 Tier 2 sponsors have issued 41,860 CoS. This number includes those issued under Tier 2 General, Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer, Tier 2 Minister of Religion and Tier 2 Sportsperson routes.
These figures are based on management information and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for national statistics. They are provisional and may be subject to change.
Mr Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on reform of the student visa system. [31459]
Damian Green: The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), has regular discussions with her colleagues and a variety of external corporate partners, covering a range of issues, including the reform of the student visa system.
Human Trafficking
Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department has made, together with police forces, of the outcomes of the Pentameter 1 and 2 investigations into human trafficking. [26828]
Damian Green [holding answer 29 November 2010]: During the operational phase of the Pentameter 1 and 2 investigations, 638 people were arrested for human trafficking related and other offences and 257 potential victims, including five for trafficking for forced labour, were recovered.
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on prevention of human trafficking; and if she will make a statement. [30877]
Damian Green: Working to ensure people do not fall prey to exploitation at the hands of traffickers in the first place is an important part of our overall approach to tackling human trafficking. We work closely with international partners to prevent trafficking at source and with voluntary organisations which raise awareness of the problem within the United Kingdom.
Human Trafficking: Children
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet ECPAT UK to discuss its experience of child trafficking in the UK for the purpose of developing an appropriate comprehensive approach to child trafficking prior to her announcement of a new strategy for human trafficking in spring 2011. [30810]
Damian Green:
The voluntary sector plays a key role in the identification of, and provision of support to, victims of human trafficking. We are strongly supportive of this role and will continue to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to reduce the incidence of
human trafficking. I met with the APPG on Human Trafficking, and representatives of ECPAT UK, on 12 July 2010.
Home Office officials will shortly be contacting non-governmental organisations to discuss development of the forthcoming strategy on human trafficking.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police operations to tackle the trafficking of children are in place in England. [31245]
Damian Green: Tackling human trafficking is a core part of police business. In addition, current operations concerned with tackling specific child trafficking issues in England include Operation Golf and the two multi-agency operational responses of Paladin and Newbridge.
Human Trafficking: Finance
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what funding her Department plans to provide for (a) actions against human trafficking and (b) support for victims of human trafficking in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; [31074]
(2) what funding her Department plans to provide for (a) actions against human trafficking and (b) support for victims of human trafficking in each year of the comprehensive spending review period. [31075]
Damian Green: Action against human trafficking will continue to be funded through the Serious Organised Crime Agency, UK Border Agency and general police budgets. It is not possible to disaggregate the amounts focused specifically on tackling human trafficking.
Support for victims of human trafficking will continue to be funded by both the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. The final amount is yet to be determined.
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what funding her Department provided for (a) actions against human trafficking and (b) support for victims of human trafficking in each year since 2005; [31076]
(2) what funding her Department provided for (a) actions against human trafficking and (b) support for victims of human trafficking in each year since 2005. [31068]
Damian Green: Up to 2007-08, with the exception of funding to support victims, work to tackle human trafficking was paid for from the £15.4 million Reflex fund which was established to counter organised immigration crime. It is not possible to disaggregate the amount provided specifically on human trafficking initiatives before then.
The following table provides details of funding broken down by year from the point at which it is possible to do so:
Human Trafficking: Prostitution
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet the Medaille Trust to discuss (a) the Government's proposed strategy on reducing human trafficking and (b) provision of half-way houses for victims of sex trafficking. [30813]
Damian Green: The voluntary sector plays a key role in the identification of, and provision of support to, victims of human trafficking. We are strongly supportive of this role and will continue to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to reduce the incidence of human trafficking.
Home Office officials will shortly be contacting non-governmental organisations to discuss development of the forthcoming strategy on human trafficking.
Human Trafficking: Refuges
Margot James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will meet the Poppy Project its London refuge for women rescued from sex trafficking and domestic slavery for the purpose of formulating her policy to reduce human trafficking. [30598]
Damian Green: The voluntary sector plays a key role in the identification of, and provision of support to, victims of human trafficking. We are strongly supportive of this role and will continue to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to reduce the incidence of human trafficking.
Home Office officials will shortly be contacting non-governmental organisations to discuss development of the forthcoming strategy on human trafficking.
Human Trafficking: Voluntary Organisations
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what voluntary organisations which assist the victims of trafficking she has met since 11 October 2010. [30811]
Damian Green: The voluntary sector plays a key role in the identification of, and provision of support to, victims of human trafficking. We are strongly supportive of this role and will continue to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to reduce the incidence of human trafficking. On 14 October 2010 I visited Stop the Traffik to mark Anti-Slavery Day. I also met with the APPG on Human Trafficking, and representatives of ECPAT UK and Anti-Slavery International, on 12 July 2010.
Home Office officials will be contacting voluntary organisations shortly to discuss development of forthcoming strategy on human trafficking.
Immigration Controls
Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress her Department has made on the reintroduction of exit checks by 2014. [27823]
Damian Green: Our programme for government sets out our support for e-Borders and our intention to re-introduce exit checks and we are committed to do this by 2015.
The e-Borders system, which is currently checking in excess of 55% of passenger and crew movements into and out of the UK, is a key element of our border security strategy. The system allows us to screen travel document information provided in advance of travel to identify threats, including those related to terrorism, and to target the most harmful individuals.
Passports: Fraud
David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of confirmed fraudulent activity detected by passport offices in 2010 was detected by the Newport Passport Office. [31063]
Damian Green: From 1 January until 30 November 2010, Newport Passport Office detected 16.1% of all confirmed passport application fraud identified by the Identity and Passport Service.
Police Community Support Officers: Nottinghamshire
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers (PCSOs) are assigned to duties in Ashfield constituency; and whether she plans to ring-fence the budget for recruitment and retention in Nottinghamshire constabulary of PCSOs. [31277]
Nick Herbert: The Government announced on 13 December as part of the police funding settlement that the Neighbourhood Policing Fund will be maintained over the next two years, before being devolved to police and crime commissioners. About 90% of the grant is ring-fenced for police community support officers (PCSOs), contributing up to 75% of their salary costs.
Police personnel statistics are not collected by the Home Office by parliamentary constituency. Ashfield constituency is in the 'city of Nottingham' basic command unit (BCU) (area A). Latest available data show that there were 49 PCSOs on 31 March 2010 in the Nottinghamshire BCU area A.
Police: Wales
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the proposal to include members of the National Assembly for Wales on police and crime panels. [31288]
Nick Herbert [holding answer 16 December 2010]: Policing is a reserved matter within the devolution settlement for Wales and we intend the Police and Crime Commissioner policy to apply in Wales as in England, with appropriate modifications to reflect the different local authority and community safety landscape within Wales. The Secretary of State for the Home Department met the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Social Justice and Local Government on 22 September 2010 to discuss the scope of the proposals that were to be set out in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill.
In addition, I have met, spoken and corresponded with the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Social Justice and Local Government on a number of occasions to discuss those provisions that impinge upon the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales or affect the functions of Welsh Assembly Government Ministers.
In light of these discussions, we have made provision in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill that police and crime panels in Wales will have appointed to them, by Welsh Assembly Government Ministers, a representative of the Welsh Assembly.
Public Order Offences
Mr Raab:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested and
(b) charged with using insulting words or behaviour under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2002, (iv) 2003, (v) 2004, (vi) 2005, (vii) 2006, (viii) 2007, (ix) 2008, (x) 2009 and (xi) 2010. [30918]
James Brokenshire: The information requested on arrests is not available centrally.
The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. From these centrally reported categories it is not possible to separately identify offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
Data provided by Ministry of Justice on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, England and Wales, from 2000 to 2009 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. Information on the number of people charged is not available centrally.
The data held by the Ministry of Justice contains information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. No information about the circumstances of each case is held other than that specified in a statute. It is therefore not possible to separately identify those cases in which insulting words or behaviour were used from offences under section 5 of the Public Order Act.
UK Border Agency: Travel
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy that staff of the UK Border Agency should register the occasions when they use (a) first class rail and (b) air travel at fares other than the cheapest available in an official capacity in the last financial year; and what hotel accommodation was used in an official capacity by each member of staff of the UK Border Agency in the last financial year. [29747]
Damian Green: The Home Office commenced a new travel booking contract in December 2008 and since early 2009 all first class rail travel can be identified. Air travel at fares other than the cheapest available can also be logged. Aggregated spend information on first class rail travel is provided to directorates to enable them to manage the cost of travel. All those contractually entitled to first class travel are expected, given the Department's commitments to reducing costs, to consider carefully whether first class travel is justified in the light of the specific business need for the journey and the example it sets.
The need for travel at all is considered against using more cost-effective options like teleconferencing or videoconferencing, which are increasingly available throughout the agency. Managers have been asked to ensure that any claim for first-class travel is balanced with a clear business justification. There are times when travelling in a higher- fare seat is justifiable; for example on long-haul flights, especially where managers have engagements on arrival at their destination. Similarly, when travelling by rail, if seating is unavailable in economy carriages then travelling first class might be appropriate.
In the financial year 2009-10, UK Border Agency staff made 4,163 hotel bookings at a total cost of £1,775,000. These booking should be set in the context of the Agency being a global organisation employing
24,000 staff working in 137 countries, which will necessitate some travel as part of managing our business.
Welsh Language
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department last published a Welsh language scheme in accordance with the provisions of the Welsh Language Act 1993; and at which web addresses these can be accessed in (a) Welsh and (b) English. [31167]
Nick Herbert: The Home Office agreed a new Welsh language scheme with the Welsh Language Board on 23 September 2009.
The scheme was available on the Home Office website in both English and Welsh until the general election when much of the Home Office's website content was archived for propriety. The Welsh language scheme pages were archived as part of that exercise.
The Welsh language scheme is available in both Welsh and English on the Home Office website at (a):
Wickham Research Laboratories: Animal Experiments
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 30 November 2010, Official Report, columns 68-69WS, on the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate (Wickham Laboratories), when she plans to determine whether proceedings for infringement of conditions of project licences are to be brought. [30842]
Lynne Featherstone: The Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate report of a review of compliance at Wickham Laboratories published on 30 November 2010, Official Report, columns 68-9WS, identified a number of potential breaches of licence and certificate conditions. I have already made the decision to initiate infringement proceedings. The Home Office does not comment on the detail of infringement actions under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the merits of reviewing the certificate of designation issued to Wickham Laboratories. [30843]
Lynne Featherstone: In the light of the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate report of a review of compliance at Wickham Laboratories published on 30 November 2010, Official Report, columns 68-9WS, the compliance of the holder of the certificate of designation, for Wickham Laboratories, with the authorities of the certificate of designation is under review. The Home Office does not disclose the details of any infringement proceedings.
Witness Care Units: Finance
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was provided to witness care units by police authorities in each year since 2005. [31070]
Nick Herbert: The information requested is not held centrally. The Home Office, the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the Welsh Assembly Government, provide funding to police authorities as a whole. Decisions on how police authorities distribute these resources are a matter for each police authority to determine.
Justice
Antisocial Behaviour: Railways
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for antisocial behaviour on trains there were in each year since 2007. [31101]
Mr Blunt: The data held by the Ministry of Justice contains information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. No information about the circumstances of each case is held centrally other than that specified in a statute and it is not possible to identify the specific location where antisocial behaviour offences occurred.
Courts: Retford
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects county court cases for the Retford area to transfer to Worksop magistrates court. [31876]
Mr Djanogly: Detailed implementation plans will now be developed and stakeholders will be informed of when a court is likely to close once the plans have been completed.
There is not currently a county court in Retford and county court hearings from the Retford area are already heard at the Worksop courthouse. Family work will continue to be heard at Mansfield county court, as is currently the case.
In March 2009, the administrative functions and staff of Worksop county court were transferred to Mansfield county court. However, county court hearings and counter services continued at the Worksop courthouse. Upon the closure of Worksop county court, county court hearings will be retained at the Worksop courthouse but the counter services will cease to be available. The administrative work for Worksop county court is already dealt with at Mansfield county court and, as now, court users will continue to be able to contact Mansfield county court by a variety of methods, including telephone, post, and in person. There will also be an on-line service for some county court processes.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether Retford magistrates court cases will be transferred to Worksop after the implementation of his proposals for court closures. [32056]
Mr Djanogly: As explained in the consultation response paper, upon its closure the workload of Retford magistrates court will be moved to Worksop.
Crimes of Violence: Railways
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions relating to violence on trains there were in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009. [31757]
Mr Blunt: Information collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice, on convictions for criminal offences, only contains the description of the offence as given in statute. In this instance it is not possible to provide information on convictions relating to violence on trains. The circumstance of each case will be held on individual court records.
Demonstrations: City of Westminster
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost of the damage caused to his Department's property in (a) Brighton and Hove and (b) Hove constituency during recent disturbances connected with demonstrations. [31761]
Mr Blunt: There is no record of damage occurring to Ministry of Justice property in Brighton and Hove and Hove constituency during recent demonstrations/disturbances.
Departmental Pay
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff employed by his Department were not paid at a rate equivalent to or above the London living wage in the latest period for which figures are available. [31218]
Mr Djanogly: The London Mayor's Living Wage Unit "London living wage" is currently valued at £7.85 per hour. This sum is calculated by reference to an assessment of basic living costs and an income distribution of 60(th) percentile of the median of incomes together with an enhancement of 15%.
Employees within the Ministry are normally employed either on pay terms known as the 'Deal', or on pay terms set by the National Offender Management Service. There are no members of staff within Greater London on these respective pay terms receiving less than the 'London living wage'. Due to past machinery of government changes, there are a small number of legacy pay systems. We do not hold any central records of employees on legacy pay terms in the Greater London area who are paid a salary less than the 'London living wage'. This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Procurement
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible have taken to comply with the guidance of the Office of Government Commerce on promoting skills through public procurement issued in 2009. [31326]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has taken a number of steps to ensure compliance with the guidance produced by the Office of Government Commerce on promoting skills through public procurement. However, the guidance is not intended to include non-departmental public bodies so the steps we have taken concentrate on the core Department and its agencies.
We have published our commitment to the programme on the MOJ procurement website where it is available for suppliers and members of the public to view.
We have inserted a new schedule in our standard tender documents explaining this important initiative and where appropriate, requiring tenderers to ensure that a specified
proportion of hours worked on the contract are to be delivered by an employee on an apprentice or training programme.
Domestic Violence
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding his Department allocated to (a) tackling domestic violence and (b) providing support to victims of domestic violence in each year since 2005. [31067]
Mr Blunt: The Department did not fund any services aimed specifically at supporting victims of domestic violence prior to 2007. Since 2007, a proportion of the proceeds from the Victim Surcharge, administered by the Ministry of Justice, has been used to fund independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) attached to specialist domestic violence courts. These IDVAs provide specialist, one-to-one support for victims of domestic violence as they progress through the criminal justice system.
Funding was allocated on a three-year cycle and on the basis that local areas would mainstream funding into local budgets within this time. In 2010-11, £840,000 was allocated to fund 42 IDVAs. The allocation in previous years was as follows:
| £ million | |
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department plans to allocate to (a) tackling domestic violence and (b) providing support to the victims of domestic violence in each year of the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [31257]
Mr Blunt: The Government are currently reviewing spend on services for victims and witnesses. No decisions have yet been taken.
Domestic Violence: Courts
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many specialist domestic violence courts were established in (a) each region of England and (b) Wales in each year since 2005. [31265]
Mr Djanogly: The number of specialist domestic violence courts established in each region of England and Wales since 2005 is set out in the following table:
| Region | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
Ejup Ganic: Public Finance
Mr Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the total cost to the public purse was of the case brought against Ejup Ganic; and how much has been so spent on (a) counsel, (b) solicitors, including staff time, (c) all relevant court hearings, (d) the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service, (e) Ejup Gain's costs awarded out of public funds and (f) any other relevant costs to be met from public funds. [30677]
Nick Herbert: With regard to the total costs to the public purse of the extradition request for Dr Ejup Ganic, I refer my hon. Friend to my previous reply of 8 November 2010, Official Report, column 118W.
The following information on costs is available.
The cost to the Home Office of counsel employed on the Ganic case was £1,597.24.
I understand from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that the total cost of administration and in-house advocates relating to the case was £34,511. The cost to the CPS of counsel employed on the case was £76,400.
I understand from HM Courts Service that the cost of the hearings involving Dr Ganic at city of Westminster magistrates court is estimated at £7,630. This is based on the estimated national average daily marginal costs for a district judge sitting in the magistrates court. The cost of the hearings at the High Court are estimated at £2,340, again based on average costs.
Dr Ganic did not receive legal aid; a defence costs order has been made to reimburse his legal costs from central funds. However, records show that no money has been paid to date.
Gary Critchley
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when his Department expects to respond to the application by Rowan House, Norfolk for leave for Mr Gary Critchley under section 17 of the Mental Health Act 1983. [31532]
Mr Blunt: The Department received the application on 10 December. Officials are assessing it, having regard to public protection, and expect to respond before Christmas.
HM Courts Service and Tribunals Service: Finance
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 9 November 2010, Official Report, columns 211-2W, on HM Court Service: Wales, when he expects to determine the (a) funding settlement for HM Courts and Tribunals Service for 2011-12 and (b) level of funding to be provided by the service for North Wales for 2011-12. [31498]
Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) is responsible for administration of courts in England and Wales. HMCS allocates financial resource to Wales and the six regions of England. From the 1 April 2011, Her Majesty's Court Service and the Tribunals Service will be integrating to form a new Agency, Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
HMCS and Tribunals Service are yet to agree a final budget allocation for HMCTS 2011-12 and are not yet in a position to confirm when this can be expected. Subsequently HMCS is yet to agree the level of funding to be provided for North Wales for 2011-12.
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