§ John MannTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there have been(a) in Nottinghamshire and (b) in the United Kingdom for the smuggling of (i) heroin, (ii) cigarettes and (iii) cannabis, in each of the last three years. [82938]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthThe information requested is not available in the form requested. Her Majesty's Customs and Excise figures show that the number of persons sentenced for all offences of smuggling tobacco within the United Kingdom was 884 in 2000–01 and 431 in 2001–02. Figures are not available on a comparative basis for such offences before 2000–01, and there are no figures available by county or police force area.
Such information as is currently available on drug `trafficking' offences in Nottinghamshire and Great Britain is given in the table. Drug 'trafficking' offences normally include the illicit production of drugs and the illicit cultivation of cannabis plants, but these are outside the definition of smuggling and have been excluded.
the 1,555 community champions funded by the Community Champions Fund were from BME communities, a success attributable to strategies such as simple application form and positive role models.
The voluntary and community sector (VCS) makes a vital contribution to tackling deprivation and promoting community cohesion. We are working across Government to further increase our support for the sector. Race equality has been placed in the mainstream of all areas of neighbourhood renewal and regeneration. We are also raising awareness of the Compact, the framework for effective partnership working between Government and the VCS, and are developing a more robust evidence base for marginalised sectors such as BME women's groups so that all parts of Government can better respond to the VCS's requirements.