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Treasury

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to monitor the take-up of age-related personal allowances by pensioners completing the latest self assessment forms.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

11 May 2001

Reference

160248; 368 c431W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will accept evidence from (a) patient organisations (b) charities, (c) pharmaceutical companies, (d) individual patients and (e) the medical profession in the forthcoming review of the operation of NICE; and if he will make a statement; if the forthcoming results...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 May 2001

Reference

368 c367W; 160745;160747;160744;160746

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

(Pursuant to reply on 09.04.2001 at 366 c453-4W) To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS vacancies there were for (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) midwives, (d) health visitors, (e) professions allied to medicine and (f) management and administration staff for each of the last 10 years...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

For answer on

9 May 2001

Answered on

9 May 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS vacancies there were for (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) midwives, (d) health visitors, (e) professions allied to medicine and (f) management and administration staff for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many posts in each category have been vacant for longer than three months; and if he will make a statement. [157323] Mr. Denham: [pursuant to his reply, 9 May 2001, c. 453-54W]: The Department has collected data on the number of posts that have been vacant for three months or more as at 31 March in 1999 and 2000. The information is in the table. Department of Health vacancies survey 3 month vacancy figures{ 1} in England as at 31 March for each year _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1999 2000 Consultants 470 590 Qualified nurses 7,150 9,870 Of which: Midwives 370 490 Health visitors 100 190 Professions allied to Medicine{2} 860 1,510 Administration and Estates{3} 640 1,740 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Posts that had been vacant for 3 months or more at 31 March each year. {2} Professions allied to Medicine staff include the following occupation groups: Chiropody, Dietetics, Occupational therapy, Orthoptics/optics, Physiotherapy, Diagnostic radiography, Therapeutic radiology, Art/ Music/Drama therapy. {3} Management and Administration staff are part of Administration and Estates Staff group, and can not be separately identified. Note: Figures are whole-time equivalents rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Department of Health Vacancies Survey

Date

9 May 2001

Reference

368 c209-10W;368 c209W; 157323

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how the compensation for milk wasted as a result of foot and mouth disease is calculated; what representations he has received regarding compensation levels for milk; what considerations informed the decision to set the level of compensation at a rate below...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 May 2001

Reference

368 c230-1W; 156698

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. - Inc figs.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Defence

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 March 2001

For answer on

8 May 2001

Answered on

8 May 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155905] Dr. Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has a wide-ranging presence throughout the UK in terms of defence establishments and the service and civilian personnel they employ. This presence brings benefits to many communities, local economies and jobs. Also, 60,000 new defence contracts are placed each year that provide support to industry and create and sustain defence-related employment. The Ministry of Defence has maintained a presence in the North Devon constituency: within the constituency itself, MOD direct employees totalled around 930 personnel as of 1 October 1999 (service and civilian). Since 2 May 1997, around 215 contracts with a total value of nearly £38 million were placed with prime contractors in the North Devon and Bideford area{1}. I draw attention to the Defence Analytical Services Agency report "UK Defence Statistics 2000" that contains a wealth of defence statistical information, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. {1} The decision as to where work under a particular contract will be undertaken rests with the contractor, therefore work on a contract placed with a prime contract in the North Devon and Bideford area may well be done elsewhere: similarly, contracts placed with contractors outside the North Devon and Bideford area could lead to sub-contracts on companies in North Devon and Bideford.

Date

8 May 2001

Reference

368 c21W; 155905

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what veterinary visits and check-ups are being carried out on farms in Devon adjacent to those where foot and mouth disease was diagnosed before 22nd March.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 May 2001

Reference

368 c125W; 157838

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there were for consultants in each year since 1995 broken down (a) by specialty and (b) by health authority; and if he will make a statement; how many vacancies there were in the NHS for consultants by specialty in...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

8 May 2001

Reference

368 c142-3W;368 c143W; 148087;150390

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many BSE-infected carcasses are awaiting destruction; what studies have taken place to assess the risk represented by incineration and airborne prions; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

30 April 2001

Reference

367 c510W; 150429

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. - Inc figs and ref to Annual Agricultural...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 March 2001

For answer on

23 April 2001

Answered on

23 April 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155899] Ms Quin: MAFF does not hold statistical information on a constituency basis relating to the Department's policies. Information on land use, crop areas, livestock numbers, and labour on holdings in England by parliamentary constituency has been produced from 1 June 1999 Annual Agricultural and Horticultural Census. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. Information from the 1 June 2000 census will be available shortly and also placed in the House Library. As many of the Department's policies flow from measures agreed within the framework of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, statistical data are normally available on a UK or England basis. Farmers in the UK receive approximately £3 billion per year in direct CAP payments. This does not include the significant additional costs to consumers as a result of CAP price supports which keep EU prices above prevailing world prices. The value of direct CAP payments to the average farmer is set out in the table. Average Subsidies received by full time farm businesses, England 1999-2000 £000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Crop subsidies Livestock subsidies Agri-environment Other{ 1} Total direct subsidies Cereals 34.2 2.3 1.0 0.1 37.8 General cropping 28.8 2.4 0.6 0.0 31.8 Horticulture 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.4 Pigs and poultry 2.2 1.4 0.1 0.0 3.6 Dairy 2.8 4.9 0.8 0.0 8.5 LFA cattle and sheep 0.4 25.4 3.3 0.2 29.3 Lowland cattle and sheep 1.7 10.6 1.8 0.0 14.1 Mixed 21.4 10.7 1.7 0.0 33.8 All types 14.8 6.4 1.2 0.1 22.5 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Includes capital grants and any other miscellaneous grants. These reflect a combination of nationally funded and partly match funded schemes. Notes: 1. HLCA payments to hill farms are included under livestock subsidies. 2. The figures show direct subsidy payments; they do not include allowance for the financial benefit of prices supported above world market levels under the CAP. Source: Farm Business Survey. In addition to CAP direct payments, farmers in the UK are benefiting from £1.35 billion in short term financial relief since 2 May 1997. This includes £785 million in agrimonetary compensation worth some £4,800 per average arable farmer, £3,200 per average dairy farmer, £1,400 per average sheep farmer, and £1,140 and £3,800 per average farmer for agrimonetary compensation related to the Beef Special Premium Scheme and Suckler Cow Premium Scheme respectively. Since May 1997 the Government have more than doubled expenditure on agri-environment schemes in England. We now have more than twice as much land covered by Countryside Stewardship agreements and we have increased the funding of organic conversion from £571,000 in 1997-98 to £12 million in 2000-01 and £18 million in 2001-02. Full time hill farmers in England will be in receipt of some £6,360 on average following the introduction of the Hill Farm Allowance Scheme this year. This compares to £4,048 under the Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance in 1996-97. Farmers in North Devon can benefit from schemes available under the England Rural Development Programme, which is backed by funding of £1.6 billion over the period 2000-06. Three of the schemes within this programme--Rural Enterprise, Processing and Marketing, and Vocational Training--have a budget of around £190 million and are being operated on a regional basis; each region has its own allocation. These allocations are set out in the England Rural Development Programme. Consumers in North Devon will benefit from the Agenda 2000 reforms of the CAP in the form of reduced food bills, with the average saving for a typical family rising to £65 a year by 2010.

Date

23 April 2001

Reference

155899; 367 c36-7W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that audiology departments are implementing the NICE guidance on hearing aids.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 April 2001

Reference

157949; 367 c172W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his Answer to the honourable Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed of 6th March 2001, 364 c115, on digitial hearing aids, when the proposed modernising hearing aid services project will commence. - Inc figure.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 April 2001

Reference

367 c171-2W; 157950

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS vacancies there were for (a) doctors, (b) health visitors, (c) professions allied to medicine and (d) nurses and midwives; and how many such posts in each category have been vacant for three nonths in each of the last 10...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

23 April 2001

Reference

367 c164W; 151300

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many managers and administrators were employed by the NHS in each of the last five years; at what cost; what the total cost to the NHS was of management and administration in each of those years for which figures are available;...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 April 2001

For answer on

23 April 2001

Answered on

23 April 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many managers and administrators were employed by the NHS in each of the last five years; at what cost; what the total cost to the NHS was of management and administration in each of those years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [157322] Mr. Denham: [holding answer 9 April 2001]: The available information is contained in the tables. Numbers of managers and administrators: National Health Service Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Managers within the administration and estates staff group in England as at 30 September each year Headcount _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Senior Manager Manager 1996 7,310 13,960 1997 7,530 14,640 1998 7,990 14,710 1999 8,880 15,410 2000 8,890 116,370 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. The apparent increase is partly accounted for by the fact that managers in primary care groups and primary care teams were not previously recorded in the figures when working for general practitioner fundholders. Even so, nursing numbers have increased by far more than these figures. Costs Paybill costs of staff in senior management, management and administrative and clerical grades are not a reliable indicator of overall administration costs because for example, they do not include the non-staff costs of management, such as health authority accommodation. Expenditure against the published definition of NHS management costs is the most reliable indicator of the cost of management and administration in the NHS. The definition of management costs includes the staff costs of managers in health authorities, Primary Care Groups and NHS Trusts, as well as non-staff costs of HAs and PCGs. Management costs at 1999-2000 prices _________________________________________________________________________________________________. £ million 1996-97 1,981 1997-98 1,857 1997-98{1} 1,935 1998-99 1,874 1999-2000 1,799 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Rebased Note: The definition of management costs was revised for 1998-99 to capture some management activity previously excluded, mainly related to NHS Trusts purchasing private sector support services. To provide a consistent time series, the 1997-98 figure was rebased on the new definition. Source: Health authority and NHS trust annual accounts

Date

23 April 2001

Reference

157322; 367 c172W

House

House of Commons

Treasury

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, if he will make it his policy (a) to review eligibility for working families tax credit and other benefits to take account of short-term drops in income as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak and (b) to make representation...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Treasury

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

10 April 2001

Reference

366 c619-20W; 157837

House

House of Commons

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. - Including figures.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 March 2001

For answer on

9 April 2001

Answered on

9 April 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155901] Mr. Chris Smith: Since May 1997 my Department has introduced and developed a variety of initiatives which will impact on the hon. Member's constituency which promote our objectives of access, excellence, education, and creativity and employment. We have published our strategies to take this forward in "Tomorrows Tourism" and "A Sporting Future for All", which was recently followed up by "The Government's Plan for Sport". We have tackled the issue of social inclusion taking forward the recommendations of Policy Action Team 10 on Arts and Sport and developing social inclusion policies across all our areas which is recognised within the most recent progress report "Building on PAT10". We have given more support to the cultural and sporting infrastructure. The Spending Review 2000 secured a doubling of the budget for sport and the largest ever increase for the arts: an increase of 80 per cent. from £186 million in 1997-98 to £336 million in 2003-04. In taking forward our aim to develop the educational potential of culture and sport £40 million has been allocated to developing Creative Partnerships; we have established through lottery funding, the £30 million National Foundation for Youth Music; and secured an additional £130 million for primary schools sports and arts facilities through the Space for Sport and the Arts programme. With £120 million of central Government and Lottery funding we will be providing a school sports co-ordinator in one in four secondary schools to work with local primary and special schools to improve sporting provision and physical education for children in the most deprived areas. We have delivered free access to national museums for children and the over 60's and additional money will be provided to allow this to be extended to everyone in December 2001. We have commissioned a Taskforce which is currently considering the issues facing non-national museums in the regions. We have made improvements in the way the Lottery is spent to ensure a fairer distribution. The introduction of the New Opportunities Fund for spending on health, education and the environment has made a real difference to communities everywhere. For instance it has invested £120 million to support the People's Network, which will enable all 4,300 public libraries to offer free public Internet access through UK online learning centres; and a further £50 million to stimulate development of content to support the Network. We have set up a Regional Cultural Consortium in each of the English regions outside London to champion culture and creativity, including heritage, sport and tourism, and to draw up regional cultural strategies identifying regional objectives and priorities. We have published a Green Paper "Culture and Creativity: The Next Ten Years", setting out how individual creative talent can be given the support it needs from childhood to flourish; how artists and cultural institutions can be freed from bureaucratic controls; and how the freedom to explore and enjoy creativity and culture can be made available to all. Through their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high-quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC and S4C, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made it clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future. The Government have introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year. My Department sponsors the British Tourist Authority (BTA) which continues to promote Britain effectively as an attractive tourist destination for overseas visitors. The BTA's successful marketing activities are aimed at bringing benefits to all parts of the UK, including North Devon. In delivering these initiatives we aim to make cultural and sporting activities inclusive ones, boosting participation and improving the quality of life for all. North Devon According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, there have been 206 national lottery awards to North Devon totalling £4,867,877. This includes £20,000 from the Millennium Festival for a Millennium Celebrations Schools Pageant. Twenty seven Millennium Award Winners have been identified from North Devon and between them they have received grants totalling £94,839. Information on the number of beneficiaries of free television licences by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 8,300 people aged 75 or over living in the North Devon constituency. Information from English Heritage (EH): Nine grants have been offered totalling £221,079 Conservation Area Partnership Scheme Ilfracombe 1997-98 offered £50,000. There are of course other initiatives in the wider context of the area which may have an effect on the North Devon constituency. These are: Devon Library authority, which includes the North Devon constituency, received an award of £113,647 from the DCMS/Wolfson Fund in 1997-98 South West Arts received £6,694,000 in 2000-01 from the Arts Council to support arts and cultural activity across its region. In 2001-02 this will increase to £7,766,575 or by 16 per cent.

Date

9 April 2001

Reference

155901; 366 c406-8W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. - Including tables and ref to Department of Health...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 March 2001

For answer on

9 April 2001

Answered on

9 April 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155898] Mr. Denham: Detailed information on the impact of Department of Health policies nationally is set out in the Department of Health Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report "Department of Health--Government Expenditure Plans 2000-01" is available in the House of Commons Library and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/dhreport. The impact of policies is not examined by constituency and statistics collected centrally by the Department are not collected on a constituency basis. The hon. Member's constituency falls within the geographical area covered by North and East Devon health authority and Devon Social Services. The increases in allocations between 1996-97 and 2000-01 for North and East Devon health authority are set out in the table. Increases in allocations between 1996-97 and 2001-02 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Increase £ million (cash) 84.7 £ million (real terms) 50.6 Percentage (cash) 33.60 Percentage (real terms) 18.37 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: Increases for 1999-2000 onwards are for unified allocations which cover hospital and community health services, prescribing and discretionary family health services. Those for previous years cover hospital and community health services only. North and East Devon health authority has received funding for certain policies. This includes: £1.352 million for accident and emergency modernisation in 2000-01; £157,000, £211,000, £273,000 and £186,000 for improving cancer services (breast, colorectal, lung and cancer outpatients) in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01 respectively; £3.186 million and £3.994 million to reduce waiting lists and times in 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively; £1.333 million to expand critical care services in 2000-01; £804,000 to deal with winter pressures in 2000-01, £368,000 of this went to Devon Social Services; £1.422 million and £359,000 for developing intermediate care services in 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively; £470,000 and £954,000 for heart disease services 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively; and £50,000 invested in dentistry in 2000-01. Devon local authority's personal social services standard spending assessment (SSA) for 2001-02 compared with 1996-97 is set out in the table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Percentage increase £ million Real Cash 1996-97 138.497 -- -- 2001-02 110.339 -29.4 -20.3 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: The SSA has decreased because of boundary changes resulting from local government re-organisation In addition to the SSAs referred, Devon local authority received additional funding in the form of a number of special and specific grants as set out in the table. £000 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 Special Transitional 4,890 -- -- -- Grant{1} Partnership Grant{2} -- 3,407 2,917 | 4,140 Prevention Grant{2} -- 280 420 | Carers Grant{3} -- 289 662 923 Children's Grant{3} -- 624 986 2,471 Mental Health Core Grant 667 1,046 1,207 {4}1,408 Training Support Grant 381 450 484 {4}473 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} The special transitional grant ended in 1998-99 {2} The partnership and prevention grants have been combined in 2001-02 and called the promoting independence grant {3} The carers' and children's grants were introduced in 1999-2000 {4} Indicative allocation

Date

9 April 2001

Reference

155898; 366 c446-7W;366 c446-8W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS vacancies there were for (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) midwives, (d) health visitors, (e) professions allied to medicine and (f) management and administration staff for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; how many posts...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 April 2001

Reference

157323; 366 c453-4W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was to the NHS of employing locum doctors in (a) general practice and (b) hospital medicine in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. - This information is...

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Health

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 April 2001

Reference

157324; 366 c454W

House

House of Commons

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many (a) vets and (b) support staff there were in the veterinary service in (i) 1971, (ii) 1979, (iii) 1997 and (iv) 2001. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 2 April 2001).

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

4 April 2001

Reference

156467; 366 c223W

House

House of Commons

Home Office

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2nd May 1997. - Inc figures.

Asked by

Nick Harvey (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Home Office

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

22 March 2001

For answer on

30 March 2001

Answered on

30 March 2001

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the North Devon constituency, the effects on North Devon of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [155904] Mr. Charles Clarke: The Home Office is working to build a safe, just and tolerant society in which the rights and responsibilities of individuals, families and communities are properly balanced, and the protection and security of the public are maintained. Detailed information on the impact of Home Office policies across the full range of responsibilities is set out in Home Office Annual Reports. A copy of the most recent report is available in the Library. Information on recorded crime and policing is also published. "Recorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to September 2000" and "Police Service Strength England and Wales, 30 September 2000" can be found in the House of Commons Library. The recorded crime statistics include information on recorded crime by Basic Command Unit and Crime and Disorder partnerships. The impact of Home Office policies and actions is not normally examined by constituency and the statistics which the Department collects, such as recorded crime, cannot be matched in the way requested although set out are examples relating to the North Devon constituency or the immediate locality: Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) North Devon district council was awarded approximately £153,000 for a 13-camera system covering crime hotspots in the Barnstaple area, including two car parks that are not covered by the current CCTV system. The scheme aims to significantly reduce violent crime, disorder and vehicle crime, also reducing the number of repeat victims and generally improving the quality of life for local residents. Youth Offending Devon Youth Offending Service (YOS) was one of the initial pilot areas for Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) and also piloted Parenting Orders and Child Safety Orders. The Devon YOT is one of the largest in the country and is divided into a three team structure: North Devon (North Devon, Torridge, West Devon districts); East Devon (Exeter, Mid Devon, East Devon districts); South Devon (Teignbridge, South Hams districts). With regard to habitual re-offending it is still early days for measurement, but a re-offending figure of 9 per cent. with all Final Warnings has been achieved since June 2000, (compared with a figure of 40 per cent. for all cautions over the previous two years). In addition a drop of 23 per cent. in youth crime for the period of October to December 2000 has been recorded. Intervention with young offenders is occurring earlier resulting in the teams having worked with over 1,000 young people by the end of this financial year against approximately 450 in the last full year pre YOT (1998). Overall youth crime in Devon is lower than the National and Regional average with one offence per one 106 of the 10-17 year old population. There was a reduction in 10 out of the 13 categories of crime from quarter 2 to quarter 3 2000-2001. Racially aggravated youth crime is very low (only nine offences) despite a Devon and Cornwall Constabulary figure that has grown by over 100 per cent. in the last year post recommendations following the Stephen Lawrence inquiry encouraging greater reporting of racial incidents. The YOS has installed a dedicated Information Technology (IT) network and database--"Youth Offending Information Systems" (YOIS). Over 2,500 records have been inputted onto this system. Full data return have been made to the Youth Justice Board (YJB) for all three first quarters. An electronic `ASSET' assessment tool has also been installed and electronic case management training is scheduled for 2001. The YOS has successfully integrated into the strategy groups of all eight District Crime Reduction Partnerships. The YOS is also involved in the Cornwall and Devon `CONNEXIONS' pilot with `personal advisers' working in all three units. This scheme is a Department for Education and Employment (DFEE) and Government initiative to provide young people between the age of 13-19 with advice regarding education and careers and is based in schools, particularly targeting those at risk of underachieving. The YOS Manager is on the new Devon Drug Action Team and YOS team staff are involved with all eight district Drug Reference Groups/Drug Strategy Groups. Staff from all three teams have been trained in Restorative Justice techniques, victim awareness and Cognitive Behavioural work. The Devon YOS are currently operating with an average arrest to sentence time for persistent young offenders of 65 days (below the Government target of 71 days and the second best figure in the country). The YOS are implementing five YJB grant aided projects: `Mentoring' (North Devon); `Restorative Justice', `Intensive Supervision and Support', `Parenting' and `Bail Supervision and Support' across all three YOS teams. More generally, all of the policies of the Home Office will impact on the residents of North Devon to a greater or lesser extent. For example: 376 Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships have been established; racial harassment and racially motivated crimes have been made criminal offences by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998; the asylum backlog has been cut from 103,495 at the end of January 2000 to 66,195 by the end of December 2000; and good progress is being made in reducing the incidence of fire deaths in England and Wales. They have dropped from 605 in 1997 to 534 in 1999. Information on the Home Office and its policies is also published on its website. (www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

Date

30 March 2001

Reference

155904; 365 c850-1W

House

House of Commons

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