HC Deb 23 July 2004 vol 424 cc861-2W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to police forces in England and Wales regarding the National Neighbourhood Watch Association. [186194]

Ms Blears

Officials wrote to all Chief Constables on 25 May 2004 to set out the Home Office's position in relation to the National Neighbourhood Watch Association. This letter encouraged Chief Constables to continue to support Neighbourhood Watch in their force areas. No instructions were given.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on agreements for commercial sponsorship of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association. [186195]

Ms Blears

The commercial sponsorship agreements of the National Neighbourhood Watch Association are a matter for the association and any sponsors.

The Home Office generally has no interest in the commercial sponsorship deals of voluntary organisations. The only exception would be when the proposed deal involved the use of a public asset, for example the Neighbourhood Watch logo. In such a case the Home Office would act to ensure that the asset was used properly and that it continued to be publicly available.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what evidence his Department provided to the Direct Line Insurance Company in 2002 that it(a) had designed and (b) owned the artwork for the Neighbourhood Watch logo. [186196]

Ms Blears

The Neighbourhood Watch logo was designed by the Central Office of Information in 1985 on behalf of the Home Office, it is therefore Crown Copyright.

The Home Office is unaware of providing evidence that this was the case to the Direct Line insurance company in 2002.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will provide a loan to the National Neighbour hood Watch Association. [186198]

Ms Blears

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have decided not to give further funding to the National Neighbourhood Watch Association on the basis of a financial audit which was undertaken earlier this year. Under these circumstances it would be inappropriate for us to provide them with a loan.