§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purposes the former Environment Department building in Marsham street is now used. [124241]
§ Mr. StrawPursuant to my reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir M. Spicer) of 6 December 1999,Official Report, column 391W, the only occupier of this otherwise vacant building is a temporary shelter for the homeless, currently scheduled to close on 31 July. Other casual issues are permitted on a short term basis from time to time.
§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of maintaining the former Environment Department offices in Marsham street. [124239]
§ Mr. StrawPursuant to my reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Sir M. Spicer) of 6 December 1999,Official Report, column 391W, the budgeted figure for the financial year 2000–01 is £392,000 excluding VAT.
§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the future of the former Environment Department offices in Marsham street. [124238]
161W
§ Mr. StrawI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) on 20 January 2000,Official Report, column 558W.
§ Mr. LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated value of the former Environment Department site in Marsham Street. [124240]
§ Mr. StrawThe site belongs to Property Advisers Civil Estate (PACE). As it is the subject of disposal action through my Department's Central London Accommodation Strategy disclosure of the current valuation could be prejudicial until the sale is completed.
North and South Manchester Greater Manchester 1 April 1098 to 30 September 1998 1 April 1999 to 30 September 1999 Percentage change 1 April 1998 to 30 September 1998 1 April 1999 to 30 September 1998 Percentage change Total crime 45,676 46,954 2.8 182,433 185,955 1.9 Violent crime 7,009 8,540 21.8 23,114 26,428 14.3 Violence against the person 4,897 6,142 25.4 18,368 21,039 14.5 Robbery 1,781 2,022 13.5 3,611 4,095 13.4 Sexual offences 331 376 13.6 1,135 1,294 14.0 Theft from the person 1,044 1,099 5.3 2,232 2,266 1.5 Theft from a vehicle 5,706 5,105 –10.5 23,477 22,317 –4.9 Theft/unauthorised taking of a vehicle 4,653 4,599 –1.2 19,237 19,698 2.4 Notes: Violent crime comprises violence against the person, robbery and sexual offences.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with Greater Manchester Police on the setting of operational targets with respect to(a) crimes of violence and (b) overall crime. [123801]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeAll police authorities in England and Wales have been provided with statutory guidance under the Best Value regime (Section 5 of the Local Government Act 1999) which requires that specific five year targets should be set by all police authorities for domestic burglary and for vehicle crime. In addition, five police authorities, including Greater Manchester, are required to set a target for robbery. The targets are a matter for individual police authorities and those set by each police authority are contained in their Best Value Performance Plan which they were required to publish before 31 March 2000.