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15W
Written Answers
26 OCTOBER 2009
Written Answers
16W
I was very interested to learn about the findings in the
Fawcett Society’s recent report, “Corporate Sexism—the
Sex Industry’s Infiltration of the Modern Workplace.”
Research like the Fawcett report illustrate that although
we have made significant progress in tackling inequality
in the workplace, there is still more work to be done.
Following the report’s launch, the Minister for Women
and Equality wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer
raising the issue of tax relief on discrete receipts from
lap-dancing establishments.
Through the Policing and Crime Bill, currently before
Parliament, we will give greater powers to local authorities
and local communities to control the opening and regulation
of lap-dancing clubs. This means lap-dancing clubs will
no longer be licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 but
will be licensed as ’sex establishments’.
The Government will continue to work with the
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as well
as with employers, to ensure enforcement of the Sex
Discrimination Act and to promote equality in the
workplace.
Euthanasia
Mr. Sharma: To ask the Solicitor-General what the
process will be for implementation of the Director of
Public Prosecutions’ policy on assisted suicide after the
conclusion and the public consultation on the interim
policy. [295045]
The Solicitor-General: The public consultation on the
CPS interim policy on cases of assisted suicide will
close on 16 December 2009. Thereafter the Director
and his team will carefully consider all of the responses
received to assess whether the policy should be amended,
and if so how. The Director then intends to publish a
summary of the responses received and issue the finalized
policy by 10 March 2010.
Homophobia: Prosecutions
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General how many
prosecutions have been brought for the offence of hatred
on the grounds of sexual orientation under Part 3A of
the Public Order Act 1986 as amended by Schedule 16
to the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008; and
how many convictions have resulted. [295852]
The Solicitor-General: No prosecutions for this offence
have yet been brought as the offence is not yet in force.
The Government intend to bring it into force as soon as
possible.
Rape: Victim Support Schemes
Mr. Sharma: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the
Government is taking to (a) increase rates of the
prosecution of rape and (b) support victims of rape.
[295046]
The Solicitor-General: There has been significant progress
in tackling rape, for example, reports of rape have more
than doubled between 1997 and 2007. However, conviction
rates remain low.
To address this, the Government have announced the
immediate setting up of a review, led by Baroness Stern,
to identify how the handling of rape complaints and
conviction rates can be improved. As well as examining
the response of the public authorities to reports of rape
and exploring ways in which the attrition rate can be
reduced, the review will also consider how to improve
victim satisfaction. It will be assisted by the valuable
work on victims’ experience being led by Sara Payne,
the Victims’ Champion.
A separate Government initiative to improve support
for victims will increase the number of Sexual Assault
Referral Centres (SARC) to ensure that there is at least
one in every police force area.
To drive up the quality of police and Crown Prosecution
Service (CPS) performance in handling reports of rape,
a team with members drawn from the Association of
Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the CPS is visiting
police forces and CPS areas, sharing good practice and
promoting increased effectiveness and a consistent approach.
Religious Hatred: Prosecutions
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Solicitor-General how many
prosecutions have been brought for the offence of
incitement to religious hatred under Part 3A of the
Public Order Act 1986 as amended by the Racial and
Religious Hatred Act 2006; and how many convictions
have resulted. [295749]
The Solicitor-General: To date one prosecution has
been brought but has not concluded: a person has been
charged and a trial date has yet to be fixed.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Arts Council of England: West Yorkshire
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for
Culture, Media and Sport how much Arts Council
England has spent per capita on (a) capital projects
and (b) revenue funding in (i) Leeds and (ii) West
Yorkshire in each year since 2001. [295354]
Mr. Simon: Arts Council England have supplied the
figures in the table. The figures represent their total
funding, awarded in £000, either on a revenue or capital
basis to organisations or individuals based (by post
code) in Leeds and West Yorkshire.
LA/capital/revenue 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Leeds
Lottery capital 625 5,589 — 19,600 — — — —
Lottery revenue 1,585 941 917 1,255 1,782 1,984 993 1,529
Grant in aid revenue 10,060 11,163 11,901 13,511 14,115 15,220 15,840 16,290
Total 12,270 17,694 12,818 34,366 15,897 17,204 16,833 17,819