HC Deb 01 May 2002 vol 384 cc821-2W
Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will use the additional resources allocated to his Department in the Budget statement. [53947]

Mr. Blunkett

Working in partnership with colleagues in Departments, agencies and services throughout the criminal justice system, I am taking forward a major programme of work to reduce crime and deal more effectively with offenders at every stage of the criminal justice process. The recent additional allocation of resources will enable us both to intensify and accelerate existing plans in key areas as well as to enhance our counter-terrorist response.

In his Budget statement, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the allocation of new resources to the Home Office of £180 million, including £110 million from the Reserve for 2002–03. He also announced that we would be drawing down on a further £100 million from the Criminal Justice Reserve. In addition, I will be re-prioritising £68 million from existing Home Office resources. This will make possible substantial new investment in key Home Office priorities as follows: £67 million to bring forward and intensify the Street Crime Initiative which is a targeted programme to reduce street robbery in the 10 metropolitan areas which together account for 82 per cent. of the national total. This comprises:

£ million
Police operations and community support officers 36.0
Video identity parades 7.6
Probation/resettlement and drugs 10.0
Additional Crown Prosecution Service and courts costs 13.8
£194 million for measures to deal with offenders on remand and after sentence and in particular provide effective measures to tackle persistent juvenile offending.
£ million
2,300 prison places (including 600 for juveniles) 171.0
Bail tagging for juveniles 7.5
Extending intensive supervision schemes 6.5
Local authority secure unit and secure training centre places 9.0

£87 million to enhance our defences against terrorism including additional resources for police activity and technical and operational support for counter-terrorist activity.

£ million
Police activity 63.0
Technical and operational support 24.0