HC Deb 22 May 2002 vol 386 cc428-44W
Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit was established; [48506]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit; [48509]

(3) what the cost of the Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit was in the last 12 months; [48507]

(4) what the remit is for the Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit. [48508]

Mr. Blunkett

The Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit was established in 1998. It is an interdepartmental unit, working in partnership with the criminal justice system departments, agencies, services and the 42 area criminal justice strategy committees to progress joint working and to take forward strategic planning, performance management and delivery across the whole of the criminal justice system. The Unit also works on improving the level of public confidence in the criminal justice system, including that of ethnic minority communities, and management of the criminal justice system reserve. The operating cost of the Criminal Justice Joint Planning Unit in 2001–02 is estimated at £0.8 million. There were 25 staff in post on 31 March 2002.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the Corporate Management Unit; [48439]

(2) what the cost of the Corporate Management Unit was in the last 12 months; [48437]

(3) how many members of staff are employed by the Corporate Management Unit; [48438]

(4) when the Corporate Management Unit was established. [48436]

Mr. Blunkett

The Corporate Management Unit was established in 1996 under the previous Conservative Administration and has two main functions. The unit supports research, development and statistics directorate (RDS) units including: planning the RDS work programme; managing its budget; undertaking procurement; and dealing with staffing issues (including training and accommodation). Well over half the unit's staff are employed in data collection for RDS's key statistical collections. There are 62 staff, and the total operating costs for 2001–02 were £2.75 million.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the Offenders and Corrections Unit; [48521]

(2) what the cost of the Offenders and Corrections Unit was in the last 12 months; [48519]

(3) when the Offenders and Corrections Unit was established; [48518]

(4) how many members of staff are employed by the Offenders and Corrections Unit; [48520]

Mr. Blunkett

The Offenders and Corrections Unit was established as a separate unit in 1996 under the previous Administration, to bring together responsibility for providing research, development and statistics for the prison and probation services and on offenders. The total operating costs for 2001–02 were £1.59 million. The number of staff employed in the unit is 66.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Accounting and Finance Unit was established; [48460]

(2) what the remit is of the Accounting and Finance Unit; [48462]

(3) how many members of staff are employed by the Accounting and Finance Unit; [48463]

(4) what the cost of the Accounting and Finance Unit was in the last 12 months. [48461]

Mr. Blunkett

The Accounting and Finance Unit (AFU) was established in April 1998 as a result of a reorganisation which brought together the work of two related units. Its function is to deliver financial and accounting management, advice and systems in support of the Home Office's aims and objectives. At 31 March 2002 the unit comprised 129 established staff in London and Liverpool. The estimated outturn operating costs were £4.1 million. The size of the Home Office budget for which AFU is responsible is £10.7 billion.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Audit and Assurance Unit; [48467]

(2) what the cost of the Audit and Assurance Unit was in the last 12 months; [48465]

(3) when the Audit and Assurance Unit was established; [48464]

(4) what the remit is of the Audit and Assurance Unit. [48466]

Mr. Blunkett

The Audit and Assurance Unit (AAU) was formed in April 1998, replacing the former internal audit unit. It performs a statutory function to provide an independent and objective opinion to the Accounting Officer on risk management, control and governance.

AAU supports the Accounting Officer in meeting his responsibility for the propriety and regularity of the public finances and for the efficient and effective use of all the available resources including value for money.

AAU also provides these services to 11 executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. In 2001–02 it has undertaken 180 separate audit reviews.

The outturn cost of AAU for the financial year 2001–02 is £1.4 million. As at 31 March 2002, AAU employed 27 staff.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Immigration and Community Care Unit was established; [48514]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the Immigration and Community Unit; [48516]

(3) what the cost of the Immigration and Community Unit was in the last 12 months; [48515]

(4) what the remit is of the Immigration and Community Unit. [48517]

Mr. Blunkett

The Immigration and Community Unit was established in 1996 under the previous Conservative Administration. The unit provides a research and statistics service for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and the Community Policy Directorate. It publishes statistics about the control of immigration, asylum, citizenship, scientific procedures and research reports (to be found on the research development and statistics (RDS) website). There are 54 staff employed in the unit and the total operating costs for 2001–02 were £1.57 million.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the remit of the Correctional Policy Unit; [48497]

(2) when the Correctional Policy Unit was established; [484951

(3) how many members of staff are employed by the Correctional Policy Unit; [48498]

(4) what the cost of the Correctional Policy Unit was in the last 12 months. [48496]

Mr. Blunkett

The Correctional Policy Unit was established in summer 1998, primarily to support the creation of the National Probation Service.

Its remit now is to monitor performance across the correctional services and identify ways to bridge gaps in provision for offenders as they move from prison to community supervision and in provision for women offenders. The Unit also sponsors and supports the inspectorates of prisons and probation and manages the contracts for the operators of electronic equipment used to monitor offenders in the community. In the financial year 2001–02 the Correctional Policy Unit's costs were £1.37 million. There were 39 members of staff in post on 31 March 2002.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the Commercial and Procurement Unit; [48470]

(2) when the Commercial and Procurement Unit was established; [48468]

(3) what the cost of the Commercial and Procurement Group Resources Unit was in the last 12 months; [48477]

(4) what the cost of the Commercial and Procurement Unit was in the last 12 months; [48469]

(5) how many members of staff are employed by the Commercial and Procurement Unit. [48471]

Mr. Blunkett

The Commercial and Procurement Group Resources Unit does not exist.

The Commercial and Procurement Unit was formed in April 1998, from previously existing units following an internal reorganisation.

Its remit is to provide the Home Office, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies with central commercial expertise, and to ensure the consistent application of policy, procedures, legislation, and best practice.

The forecast cost of the Commercial and Procurement Unit for the 2001–02 financial year is £1.05 million. As at 31 March 2002 there were 26 staff in post.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Police Leadership and Powers Unit; [48422]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the Police Resource Unit; [48426]

(3) how many members of staff are employed by the Science and Technology Unit; [48434]

(4) how many members of staff are employed by the Performance and Strategic Management Unit; [48418]

(5) how many members of staff are employed by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary; [48414]

(6) how many members of staff are employed by the Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit; [48411]

(7) how many members of staff are employed by the Police Resource Unit. [48430]

Mr. Blunkett

The number of staff employed on 31 March 2002 in each of these units is shown in the table. These figures include staff employed on a temporary basis.

Unit Number of staff employed1
Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit 80
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary 114
Performance and Strategic Management Unit2 218
Police Leadership and Powers Unit 45
Police Resources Unit 56
Science and Technology Unit 58
1As at 31 March 2002
2includes 10 regional Crime Reduction Teams

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Animal Procedures and Coroners Unit was established; [48092]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the Animal Procedures and Coroners Unit; [48094]

(3) what the cost of the Animal Procedures and Coroners Unit was in the last 12 months; [48093]

(4) what the remit is of the Animal Procedures and Coroners Unit. [48095]

Mr. Blunkett

The Animal Procedures and Coroners Unit was established in its present form after the machinery of Government changes following the general election in June 2001. The Unit was formerly called the Animals, Byelaws and Coroners Unit and had additional responsibilities that were transferred to other Government Departments.

The Unit is responsible for the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (including the costs of the Animal Procedures Committee). It also carries out the Home Secretary's functions in relation to coroners, burial law and related matters.

The provisional outturn operating costs of the Animal Procedures and Coroners Unit for the financial year April 2001 to March 2002 were approximately £1.64 million. On 31 March 2002 there were 40 members of staff in post in the Unit.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Mental Health Unit; [48133]

(2) what the cost of the Mental Health Unit was in the

last 12 months; [48131]

(3) what the remit is of the Mental Health Unit; [48132]

(4) when the Mental Health Unit was established. [48130]

Mr. Blunkett

The Home Office has exercised functions in respect of mentally disordered offenders since 1800, when the Criminal Lunatics Act was passed. The Mental Health Unit was established in its present form in 1996 under the previous Conservative Administration. It succeeded units which have existed since 1959 when the Mental Health Act created responsibilities for the Home Secretary in the management of restricted patients. This was also legislation passed by a Conservative Government.

The Mental Health Unit: assists me in the discharge of my duties and powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Acts 1964 and 1991; and develops new services for those who are dangerous and severely personality disordered, and manages a research programme on their assessment and treatment. In the year to 31 December 2000 (the latest year for which figures are available1) the Mental Health Unit: transferred 271 restricted patients from a Prison Service establishment; transferred 393 restricted patients from a Prison Service establishment to hospital while unsentenced or untried; transferred 30 restricted patients to hospital under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Act; conditionally discharged 23 restricted patients; and recalled 60 patients to hospital after conditional discharge. The estimated outturn operating costs of the unit are £2.06 million. On 31 March 2002 the Mental Health Unit employed the full time equivalent of 62 staff.

1 Statistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders, Home Office statistical Bulletin 22/01

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Criminal Justice Integration Programme was established; [48502]

(2) what the remit is of the Criminal Justice Integration Unit; [48501]

(3) how many members of staff are employed by the Criminal Justice Integration Programme; [48505]

(4) when the Criminal Justice Integration Unit was established; [48499]

(5) what the remit is of the Criminal Justice Integration Programme; [48504]

(6) what the cost of the Criminal Justice Integration Unit was in the last 12 months; [48500]

(7) what the cost of the Criminal Justice Integration Programme was in the last 12 months. [48503]

Mr. Blunkett

The Criminal Justice Integration Unit was established in August 2001 and the Criminal Justice Integration Programme was established in September 2001. They work closely together, sharing resources, to deliver the over-arching remit of Criminal Justice Information Technology (CJIT). That is, to ensure the delivery of timely and cost-effective information technology (IT) in support of a modern joined-up criminal justice system. CJIT will build on the existing criminal justice organisations' IT investments and link their case management systems, progressively, using Government-standard services and standards. At 31 March 2002, the number of staff in post in CJIT was 38. The cost of CJIT in the last financial year (2001–02) was £3.61 million.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the European and International Unit was established; [48440]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the European and International Unit; [48443]

(3) what the cost of the European and International Unit was in the last 12 months; [48441]

(4) what the remit is of the European and International Unit. [48442]

Mr. Blunkett

A European Communities Unit was set up in May 1991 under the previous Conservative Administration. The present title (European and International Unit) was adopted in April 2000.

The unit: provides a focus for the co-ordination of Home Office involvement in the European Union (EU), through development of the Home Office strategic approach to the EU and contributing to the development of policy and negotiating positions in a total, for the year ending 31 March 2002, of 56 Justice and Home Affairs Councils, meetings of the Article 36 Committee and meetings of the Enlargement Working Group; advises other areas of the Home Office on EU policy and procedural issues in the field of justice and home affairs; maintains and enhances the effectiveness of the mechanisms by which the Home Office ensures that parliamentary scrutiny obligations are fulfilled; provides a focus for Home Office interests in the work of the G8 and other non-EU international organisations where a single policy focus does not exist; and co-ordinates briefing and practical arrangements for international multiple-focus visits to/by Home Office Ministers and senior officials. The unit cost £0.78 million in the 12 months ending 31 March 2002. It has 24 members of staff.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Corporate Support Services Unit; [48082]

(2) when the Corporate Support Services Unit was established; [48080]

(3) what the remit is of the Corporate Support Services

[48083]

Unit;

(4) what the cost of the Corporate Support Services Unit was in the last 12 months. [48081]

Mr. Blunkett

The Corporate Support Services Unit (CSSU) was established on 1 April 1996 under the previous Conservative Government and is responsible for the Mail and Messenger Service, the Text Processing Service, the Health and Safety Service and the Health and Welfare Service. The unit also has responsibility for the maintenance of appropriate security and business continuity arrangements within the Home Office. The estimated outturn for operating costs in the financial year 2001–02 was £6.18 million. As at 31 March 2002 there were 159 staff in post.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the farm policy unit; [48084]

(2) when the farm policy unit was established; [48086]

(3) how many members of staff are employed by the farm policy unit; [48085]

(4) what the cost of the farm policy unit was in the last

12 months. [48087]

Mr. Blunkett

I presume the hon. Member is asking about the family policy unit. The family policy unit was established in February 1999 to co-ordinate family policy across Government, under the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Active Communities and Family Issues, and manage the family support grant to voluntary sector organisations working to improve support for parents.

In the 12 months to 31 March 2002, provisional outturn operating costs of the unit were some £0.48 million. 13 staff were in post as at 31 March 2002.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Human Resources and Equality Unit was established; [48122]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the Human Resources and Equality Unit; [48120]

(3) what the cost of the Home Office Sports and Social Association Organisation was in the last 12 months; [48492]

(4) how many members of staff are employed by the Home Office Sports and Social Association Organisation; [48494]

(5) what the remit is of the Home Office Sports and Social Association Organisation; [48493]

(6) what the cost of the Human Resources and Equality Unit was in the last 12 months; [48121]

(7) what the remit is of the Human Resources and Equality Unit. [48119]

Mr. Blunkett

The Human Resources and Equality Unit was created in its current form in May 1999, taking over functions from various other units at that time. It is responsible for pay and industrial relations for the Home Office, excluding the Prison Service and other agencies; human resource planning; diversity issues among Home Office staff; and for helping to modernise personnel systems in use across the Home Office.

On 31 March 2002 the number of staff employed in the Unit was 45. Another 16 posts are occupied by full-time trade union officials.

The Unit's forecast outturn operating costs, including the trade unions side, in the financial year 2001–02 were £2.08 million.

The Unit also has responsibility for the Home Office Sports and Social Association which was formed by staff in about 1924. The Association's remit is to encourage and co-ordinate sport and social activities among staff by means of associated clubs and societies. The Association is affiliated to the Civil Service Sports Council.

The Association does not employ any staff. However the Home Office, since at least 1970, has provided it with a secretary and one assistant. The cost to the Home Office of the Association in 2001–02 was £37,000, which covers the cost of the Secretariat. All money administered by the Association is received from staff through the Civil Service Sports Council and profits from a monthly work place lottery.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the Science and Technology Unit; [48435]

(2) what the remit is of the Police Leadership and Powers Unit; [48423]

(3) what the remit is of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary; [48415]

(4) what the remit is of the Performance and Strategic Management Unit; [48419]

(5) what the remit is of the Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit; [48412]

(6) what the remit is of the Police Resource Unit; [48431]

(7) what the remit is of the Police Resource Unit. [48427]

Mr. Blunkett

As part of the Policing and Crime Reduction Group, all these units contribute to reducing crime and the fear of crime. Their main responsibilities are as follows:

Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit

This unit is responsible for: Developing strategies against disorder and anti-social behaviour, violent crime, vehicle crime, burglary and other property crime, road crime, youth crime, rural crime and fear of crime; Policy on the maintenance and disclosure of criminal records; The promotion of information sharing in order to combat crime; The administration of controls on firearms; The payment of grants totalling £6.7 million in the year ending 31 March 2002 for a range of crime reduction initiatives and for the firearms compensation scheme. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary is responsible for carrying out inspections of police forces under the Police Act 1964. It seeks to promote collaboration between forces and to encourage the application of up-to-date techniques and the results of central police research. The Inspectorate also provides advice to the Secretary of State and the Home Office on professional police matters. Performance and Strategic Management Unit

This unit is responsible for: Developing and maintaining the constitutional arrangements for policing and monitoring performance; Supporting regional crime reduction teams and local partnerships; Increasing the public availability of police officers and support staff; Managing the Group's performance monitoring systems and budget; The payment of grants totalling £162.4 million in the year ending 31 March 2002 for a range of crime reduction initiatives. Police Leadership and Powers Unit

This unit is responsible for developing policy on: Police leadership, police powers and procedures, and police relations with the public; The training of police officers and support staff; Police complaints and discipline and to combat police corruption; Sponsoring the Police Complaints Authority and the Central Police Training and Development Authority. Police Resources Unit

This unit is responsible for: Developing the policy relating to police resource issues; Allocating and monitoring the use of public money provided to the police, including the payment of grants totalling £4,290 million in the year ending 31 March 2002 to police forces and to police associations; Developing the policy relating to police employment and conditions of service.

Science and Technology Unit This unit is responsible for: Advising on the exploitation of science and technology by the police and in crime prevention; Managing the DNA Expansion Programme; Acting as the sponsor unit for the Police Information Technology Organisation and the National Identification Service; Supporting the Forensic Science Service; Overseeing the provision of forensic pathology services in England and Wales; Regulating the police radio frequency service; Developing policy on the police use of aircraft; Providing policy advice on the development of police equipment and software.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost of the Finance and Planning Unit was in the last 12 months; [48445]

(2) how many members of staff are employed by the Finance and Planning Unit; [48447]

(3) when the Finance and Planning Unit was established; [48444]

(4) what the remit is of the Finance and Planning Unit. [48446]

Mr. Blunkett

The Finance and Planning Unit was established in April 1996 under the previous Conservative Government, to provide advice on business planning in support of the aims and objectives of the newly created Organised and International Crime Directorate, and to manage the Directorate's budget. The provisional outturn operating costs of the unit in 2001–02 were £0.2 million. As at 31 March 2002 there were five staff in post.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the remit is of the Business Support Unit; [48103]

(2) what the cost is of the Business Support Unit; [48105]

(3) when the Business Support Unit was established; [48106]

(4) how many members of staff are employed by the Business Support Unit. [48104]

Mr. Blunkett

The Business Support Unit was established in November 1999 from two previous units to provide a central focus for all of Communication Directorate's administrative support and resource management/planning activities and manage the long-term strategic Customer Communications Foundation Project (CCFP) as well as a small number of related tactical/ short-term projects designed to improve the Home Office's performance in dealing with Ministers' cases, public correspondence, and telephone inquiries. The Business Support Unit's provisional operating cost outturn for the financial year ending 31 March 2002 is £0.8 million. The number of staff on 31 March was 19.5.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Sentencing and Offences Unit was established; [48138]

(2) what the remit is of the Sentencing and Offences Unit; [48140]

(3) what the cost of the Sentencing and Offences Unit was in the last 12 months; [48139]

(4) how many members of staff are employed by the Sentencing and Offences Unit. [48141]

Mr. Blunkett

The Sentencing and Offences Unit (SOU) was formed in 1996 under the previous Conservative Government when parts of the previous C1 division (dealing with sentencing policy) and C4 division (dealing with policy on criminal offences) were merged. The Sentencing and Offences Unit reviews sentencing policy and aspects of the criminal law, including ensuring that the criminal law is sufficient for the purposes of opposing criminal activities and that there are appropriate penalties available to the courts. It scrutinises all proposals for new offences and penalties to ensure their proper formulation.

Major areas of work in which the unit is at present engaged include the preparation of final proposals for the comprehensive reform of sex offences; proposals to strengthen the Sex Offenders Act 1997; a review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; preparation of final proposals for reform of the Offences Against the Person Act and the law on involuntary manslaughter and on corruption; and the implementation of sections 1–11 of Part I of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (on the spot penalties for disorderly behaviour).

The unit is responsible for a large amount of public and ministerial correspondence and parliamentary business on all aspects of sentencing and offences. During the period from 1 October 2001 to 31 March 2002 SOU replied to 766 items of public correspondence and 335 Ministers' cases.

The provisional outturn operating costs in the financial year 2001–02 are expected to be approximately £1.4 million. This includes the cost of the secretariat for the Sentencing Advisory Panel.

There are 36 members of staff employed in the Sentencing and Offences Unit.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Criminal Justice Reform Unit was established; [48123]

(2) what the cost of the Criminal Justice Reform Unit was in the last 12 months; [48124]

(3) what the remit is of the Criminal Justice Reform Unit; [48125]

(4) how many members of staff are employed by the Criminal Justice Reform Unit. [48126]

Mr. Blunkett

The Criminal Justice Reform Unit was established in September 2001 to take forward the implementation of the Home Office aspects of Sir Robin Auld's Review of the Criminal Courts, which was published in October 2001.

The costs were not separated out until recently, and are around £35,000 a month.

On 31 March 2002 there were 14 members of staff in post.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Group Resources Unit was established; [48476]

(2) what the remit is of the Group Resources Unit; [48478]

(3)how many members of staff are employed by the Group Resources Unit. [48479]

Mr. Blunkett

The Group Resources Unit was established in April 1998, following an internal reorganisation, to manage the budget of the Planning, Finance and Performance Group, and support the senior management of the Group in achieving the objectives set out in the Group's Business Plan and in taking forward the modernisation programme. As at 31 March 2002 there were four staff in post. The estimated outturn operating costs are £0.79 million.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Police Resource Unit was established; [48424]

(2)when the Police Leadership and Powers Unit was established; [48420]

(3)when the Science and Technology Unit was established; [48432]

(4)when the Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit was established; [48409]

(5)when the Police Resource Unit was established; [48428]

(6)when the Performance and Strategic Management Unit was established. [48416]

Mr. Blunkett

These units were established in their current form in June 2000 as part of an internal re-organisation of the Policing and Crime Reduction Group.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Crime and Criminal Justice Unit was established; [48510]

(2)what the cost of the Crime and Criminal Justice Unit was in the last 12 months; [48511]

(3)what the remit is of the Crime and Criminal Justice Unit; [48513]

(4)how many members of staff are employed by the Crime and Criminal Justice Unit. [48512]

Mr. Blunkett

The Crime and Criminal Justice Unit was established as a separate unit in 1996 under the previous Conservative Administration, to provide wide ranging research, development and statistics on patterns of crime, the prosecution process, court procedures, youth offending and sentencing to support policy development. The operating costs for 2001–02 were £1.70 million. The number of staff employed in the unit is 52.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost of the Business Support and Communication Unit was in the last 12 months; [48108]

(2)when the Business Support and Communication Unit was established; [48089]

(3)how many members of staff are employed by the Business Support and Communication Unit; [48091]

(4)what the remit is of the Business Support and Communication Unit; [48088]

(5)what the cost of the Business Support and Communication Unit was in the last 12 months; [48090]

(6)when the Business Support and Communication Unit was established; [48107]

(7)how many members of staff are employed by the Business Support and Communication Unit; [48109]

(8)what the remit is of the Business Support and Communication Unit. [48110]

Mr. Blunkett

A secretariat was established in 1996 under the previous Conservative Administration to support the newly created Corporate Resources Directorate. That is now the Corporate Development and Services Group (CDSG), and its support unit was renamed the Business Support and Communication Unit in February 2001. It provides budget management, business planning and other management support services to CDSG, and advice and support to CDSG managers and staff in communicating its policies to the wider Home Office and within CDSG itself. The cost of the Business Support and Communications Unit in the last 12 months was £0.24 million. There are seven staff in the unit.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost of the Buildings and Estate Management Unit was in the last 12 months; [48116]

(2)when the Buildings and Estate Management Unit was established; [48115]

(3)what the remit is of the Buildings and Estate Management Unit; [48118]

(4)how many members of staff are employed by the Buildings and Estate Management Unit. [48117]

Mr. Blunkett

The Building and Estate Management Unit was established in October 1995 under the previous Conservative Administration.

The Unit's remit is to provide best value accommodation and related services that enable and support the achievement of the Home Office aims. This includes developing and promoting the Department's (non prisons) property strategy; delivering specialist property and procurement services; developing and promoting the Department's sustainable development policies; and managing the central London headquarters estate and planned relocation to the new headquarters building at 2 Marsham Street.

As at 31 March 2002 it employed 44 staff. The projected operating costs for the financial year 2001–02 is £1.57 million.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost of the Sirius Programme Management Unit was in the last 12 months; [48113]

(2)when the Sirius Programme Management Unit was established; [48114]

(3)what the remit is of the Sirius Programme Management Unit; [48111]

(4)how many members of staff are employed by the Sirius Programme Management Unit. [48112]

Mr. Blunkett

The Sirius Programme Management Unit was established as a separate unit in February 2001 to manage the Sirius Programme, which provides information technology and telephones to the core Home Office and business and consultancy services to the core Home Office. The Sirius programme comprises three initial business change projects, which cover financial and personnel administration and customer communications.

The provisional outturn operating costs of the Sirius Programme Management Unit for the financial year April 2001 to March 2002 were £3.3 million.

The number of staff employed in the Sirius Programme Management Unit was 27. In February 2002, the 11 staff responsible for the Home Office modernisation programme and the business and consultancy services transferred to another unit.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost of the Judicial Co-operation Unit was in the last 12 months; [48453]

(2)how many members of staff are employed by the Judicial Co-operation Unit; [48455]

(3)when the Judicial Co-operation Unit was established; [48452]

(4)what the remit is of the Judicial Co-operation Unit. [48454]

Mr. Blunkett

The Judicial Co-operation Unit (JCU), previously known as C2 Division, was formed in 1991 under the previous Conservative Administration following the implementation of the 1990 Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act and 1989 Extradition Act. Previously the functions, under earlier legislation, were undertaken by the Foreign Office.

JCU has three main functions:

The United Kingdom (UK) Central Authority for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) produced 2,900 incoming (from abroad) and 1,700 outgoing (from UK to foreign authorities) requests last year. It operates on behalf of the Secretary of State under the 1990 Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act.

The Extradition Section processed 125 incoming and 83 outgoing requests for extradition last year, under the terms of the 1989 Extradition Act. The section also deals with extradition policy.

The International Policy team negotiates, at official level, on proposals for improved judicial co-operation and criminal law co-operation between countries. Much of the work is in the European Union (EU), where it works to progress the relevant conclusions on the Tampere Council. It also works in United Nations, Council of Europe, Commonwealth and G8 fora, dealing with proposed international conventions, money-laundering and asset confiscation issues.

In addition, at present, it is running on behalf of the EU two projects for candidate countries on judicial co-operation and money laundering.

The cost of the Judicial Co-operation Unit for the year 2001–02 was £2.4 million. On 31 March 2002, there were 41 staff employed in JCU, plus four staff working on twinning projects for the candidate countries and paid for by European Union funds.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) What the cost of the Performance and Strategic Management Unit in the last 12 months; [48417]

(2)what the cost of the Police Leadership and Powers Unit was in the last 12 months; [48421]

(3)what the cost of the Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit was in the last 12 months; [48410]

(4)what the cost of the Science and Technology Unit was in the last 12 months; [48433]

(5)what the cost of the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary was in the last 12 months; [48413]

(6)what the cost of the Police Resource Unit was in the last 12 months; [48429]

(7)what the cost of the Police Resource Unit was in the last 12 months. [48425]

Mr. Blunkett

Provisional information on operating costs for the year ending 31 March 2002 for each of these units is shown in the table.

£million
Unit Operating costs1
Action Against Crime and Disorder Unit 1.66
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary2 5.66
Performance and Strategic Management Unit (London and the Regions) 4.91
Police Leadership and Powers Unit 1.32
Police Resources Unit 1.45
Science and Technology Unit 2.20
1 Year ending 31 March 2002.
2 Including seconded police officers.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost of the Policing Organised Crime Unit was in the last 12 months; [48457]

(2)when the Policing Organised Crime Unit was established; [48456]

(3)what the remit is of the Policing Organised Crime Unit; [48458]

(4)how many members of staff are employed by the Policing Organised Crime Unit. [48459]

Mr. Blunkett

The Policing Organised Crime Unit (POCU) was established on 1 April 1996 under the previous Conservative Government. It is responsible for developing a strategic response to the various threats from serious and organised crime; in particular the reduction of serious and organised crime as measured by the disruption of organised criminal enterprises. POCU is the sponsor unit for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad. It is providing the United Kingdom link to the European Schengen Information System and co-ordinates Home Office interests in international police and drugs co-operation work (through work related to Europol, Interpol, G8, European Union, Council of Europe and the United Nations) and in both national and international aspects of police witness protection.

The provisional outturn operating costs of the Policing Organised Crime Unit for the financial year April 2001 to March 2002 were £1.12 million. In March 2002 there were 25 staff in post.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit was established; [48522]

(2)how many members of staff are employed by the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit; [48524]

(3)what the cost of the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit was in the last 12 months; [48523]

(4)what the remit is of the Policing and Reducing Crime Unit. [48525]

Mr. Blunkett

The Policing and Reducing Crime Unit was established as a separate unit in 1998. The unit conducts the Home Office's research on how to reduce crime and fear of crime, it improves policing, and it evaluates projects trying to reduce crime. There are 88 staff (including 27 in the offices of the regional Crime Reduction Teams). The provisional outturn operating costs for the financial year 2001–02 were £3.52 million.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the national police training unit; [51171]

(2)what the remit is of the national police training unit; [51172]

(3)what the cost is of the national police training unit. [51173]

Mr. Blunkett

The Home Office national police training unit was responsible for providing police training and facilities for the provision of police training, promoting the value of the provision of police training, and giving advice and assistance on the provision of police training to others. It became a non-departmental public body—the Central Training and Development Authority (Centrex)—under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001. Centrex was established on 1 April 2002.

The outturn revenue costs for 2001–02 are expected to be in the region of £73 million.

As at 31 March 2002, a total of 1,176 staff were in post, including 553 seconded police staff.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many members of staff are employed by the Active Community Unit; [48098]

(2)when the Active Community Unit was established; [48096]

(3)what the cost of the Active Community Unit was in the last 12 months; [48097]

(4)what the remit is of the Active Community Unit. [48099]

Mr. Blunkett

The Active Community Unit was established in 1999. It superseded the Voluntary and Community Unit which, with its predecessors, had been a unit in the Home Office since the early 1970s.

The Active Community Unit contributes to the delivery of Home Office aim 7: "To support strong and active communities in which people of all races and backgrounds are valued and participate on equal terms." It is also responsible for the achievement of the Government's target to make substantial progress by 2004 towards one million more people being actively involved in their communities.

It does this by working across Government to: take forward a range of initiatives designed to enable local people to make a positive contribution to their communities; develop productive partnerships between Government and the voluntary and community sector; develop a modern legal and regulatory framework for the voluntary and community sector.

Achievements in 2001 and 2002 include: establishing the Experience Corps initiative to encourage more people aged 50 and over to remain or become active in their communities; providing grants totalling £48.5 million to various voluntary and community organisations and ensuring that the resources are effectively utilised; launching Black and Minority Ethnic and Volunteering Codes of Good Practice supporting the `Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in England'; leading a cross-departmental initiative to develop an action plan to rationalise and simplify access by community groups to Government small grants programmes.

Operating cost expenditure for the Active Community Unit in 2001–02 was £2.1 million. On 31 March 2002, the Active Community Unit had 42 staff in post.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Economics and Resource Analysis Unit was established; [48526]

(2)what the remit is of the Economics and Resource Analysis Unit; [48529]

(3)how many members of staff are employed by the Economics and Resource Analysis Unit; [48528]

(4)what the cost of the Economics and Resource Analysis Unit was in the last 12 months. [48527]

Mr. Blunkett

The Economics and Resource Analysis Unit was established in its present form in 1998. The unit is responsible for all economic advice and much of the quantitative modelling work that underpins Home Office policy. Major areas of work includepolicy modelling of the Criminal Justice system (including quantification of costs and benefits); economic analysis of alternative policy options (including assessment of crime intervention strategies and programmes in terms of returns of tax payers' money); economics of migration and asylum (including assessment of impact of migration and asylum policy on the economy); efficiency and effectiveness of policing (including funding formula for allocating resources between forces). The total operating costs for 2001–02 were £0.80 million. The number of staff employed in the unit is 22.