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Crime Prevention
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the Home Office research unit budget is spent on evaluating the crime prevention potential of different building materials.
Mr. John Patten : None, although some crime prevention demonstration projects funded from time to time may involve, among other things, "target hardening" of doors, windows and frames through improved materials and design.
New Prisons
Mr. Heffer : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sites for new prisons he has considered and rejected in the north-west over the last two years.
Mr. Mellor : During this period the Home Office has considered some 40 possible sites. Only one of these, at Fazakerley, Liverpool, is being actively pursued at present. Discussions on a number of the sites were on a confidential basis, because of commercial considerations, and it would not be right to list all of the sites involved.
Pop Concerts
Mr. Janner : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he intends to introduce measures to ensure that all security staff at pop concerts are trained in fire control and emergency evacuation ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) whether he intends to introduce proposals to ensure that the conditions of entry to pop concerts are better publicised ; and if he will make a statement ;
(3) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that a common grid map should be devised and used by emergency services at all pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ;
(4) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that all sites used for pop concerts are surveyed for crowd safety purposes ; and if he will make a statement ;
(5) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that all vendors on the sites of pop concerts are prevented from selling alcohol, or drinks in bottles or cans ; and if he will make a statement ;
(6) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that an emergency control room should be set up at all pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ;
(7) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that an evacuation plan approved by the emergency services should be prepared prior to all pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ; (8) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that the heads of security at all pop concerts should be allowed access to non-classified local emergency plans ; and if he will make a statement ;
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(9) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that there should be a defined head of security and a named site controller for all pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ;(10) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure that there should be a VHF exclusive frequency used for radio communications at all pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ;
(11) whether he proposes to introduce measures to ensure the reduction of crowd build-up at entry points to pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ;
(12) whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that all senior supervisors at pop concerts are (a) within constant radio contact and (b) trained in fire control, emergency evacuation and cardiac pressure and resuscitation ; and if he will make a statement ;
(13) whether he will introduce measures to ensure adequate training and discipline of security staff employed at all pop concerts ; and if he will make a statement ;
(14) whether he will introduce measures to ensure that all first-aid posts and treatment centres at pop concerts should be left to trained first-aid personnel ; and if he will make a statement ; (15) whether he will introduce measures to ensure that one person at pop concerts should be stationed on the stage with the authority to stop the show at any time ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, or in London the London Government Act 1963, responsibility for controlling places which are used for public musical entertainments, including pop concerts, is vested in the local authority. One of the purposes of this licensing regime is to ensure that places used for such entertainments have adequate standards of safety and hygiene and the legislation empowers local authorities to attach terms, conditions and restrictions to an entertainments licence. When considering the issue of such licences the local authority will generally have regard to any observations submitted to it by the police and the fire authority, to which advance notice of the application must be given.
We have no present plans for any fundamental alterations to the existing arrangements for the licensing of public entertainments. The local authority is best placed to determine, in the circumstances of each individual application, exactly what conditions relating to crowd safety should be attached to any particular entertainments licence.
To assist local authorities and fire authorities, as well as managers and licensees of premises, we are shortly to publish a comprehensive "Guide to Fire Precautions in Existing Places of Public Entertainment and Like Premises". This consolidates and to some extent revises existing guidance and contains specific advice on fire safety at pop concerts. We are also considering, in consultation with other agencies with an interest in the question, whether any further guidance should be issued to local authorities about crowd safety at public musical entertainments.
Immigration
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a summary of the compelling and compassionate circumstances in which
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visitors from abroad initially refused entry by immigration officials have been allowed to visit, since the implementation of the relevant change in the immigration rules.Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information is not available in the form requested. Paragraph 10 of the guidelines on the handling of representations by Members of Parliament in immigration cases, which were sent to right hon. and hon. Members under cover of a letter from my right hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 14 December 1988 gives examples of the sort of exceptional and compelling circumstances which would justify deferment of removal. These examples are not exhaustive and each case is considered on its merits.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to change the requirement for United Kingdom citizens resident in Hong Kong who marry other nationalities to be resident in the United Kingdom for three years before the spouse is granted permanent right of abode.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have no present plans for changes in the relevant law and practice other than those necessary to implement the announcement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 20 December 1989 at column 363.
Court Escort Services
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards privatising court escort services.
Mr Mellor : We are at present considering the outcome of the further studies into the likely cost-effectiveness of contracting out court escort services to the private sector, which my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Hurd) commissioned (his statement on 1 March 1989 at columns 277-88 refers to that). We hope soon to announce our conclusions.
INFORM
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grant has been given to INFORM ; and for how long.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : INFORM became operational on 1 January 1988. The Home Office funding is designed on a reducing basis over three years : £50,000 in the first full year of operation, and £40,000 and £30,000 in the subsequent years. The amounts in the respective financial years are £25,000 in 1987-88, £45,000 in 1988-89, £35,000 in 1989-90 and (provisionally) £15,000 in 1990-91.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Dr. Barker was appointed chairman of INFORM ; and for how long her appointment runs.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We understand that Dr. Barker has been chairman of INFORM since its inception ; that she was formally appointed chairman by the board of governors when INFORM became a limited company in February, 1989 ; and that the length of her appointment is at the discretion of the board of governors.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the annual report of INFORM was published.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : Under the terms of its grant INFORM is required to submit a report on its activities each year. The last such report was received by the Home Office in May 1989. Copies may be obtained from INFORM, and I am asking it to send one to my hon. Friend.Association of Chief Police Officers
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what subjects were discussed when he last met the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There has been no further formal contact between my right hon. and learned Friend and the Association of Chief Police Officers since I replied to a question from the hon. Member on 5 December at column 182.
Horserace Totalisator Board
Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much, in each case, the Horserace Totalisator Board has invested in capital expenditure for the racecourse division and Tote Credit Ltd over each of the last six years ending 1989-90 ; and what is the current asset value in each balance sheet.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Other than its annual report submitted to Parliament or in its annual returns to Companies House concerning Tote Credit Ltd and Tote Bookmakers Ltd, the Tote does not publish detailed breakdowns of the information requested as it regards such information as commercially sensitive.
Figures for Tote Credit Ltd's capital expenditure as given in its returns are as follows :
|£000
---------------------------
1983-84 |131
1984-85 |225
1985-86 |188
1986-87 |243
1987-88 |262
1988-89 |<1>2,593
<1>Includes substantial
one-off expenditure on the
new Wigan headquarters
which were opened by my
right hon. Friend the
Member for Witney (Mr.
Hurd) on 28 February 1989.
Figures for 1989-90 are not yet available.
The net book value of capital expenditure for Tote Credit Ltd on 31 March 1989 was £4,333,000.
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Information Storage
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the application of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 of the requirement of the Data Protection Act or other legislation controlling information storage and retrieval.
Mr. Mellor : The Drug Trafficking Offences Act enables banks and other financial institutions to disclose suspicions to the enforcement authorities without infringing the law on confidentiality and personal privacy. The evidence is that it has achieved this objective. The Government have stated, however, that they are keeping the working of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act under continuing review, and that they are prepared to take whatever action is necessary if problems are found to arise.
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the applications of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 of the requirements of the Data Protection Act or other legislation controlling information storage and retrieval.
Mr. John Patten : I have no reason to believe that the application of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 has been impeded by the confidentiality or privacy requirements of other legislation. We will, however, keep the matter under review.
Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the application of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 of the requirements of the Data Protection Act or other legislation controlling information storage and retrieval.
Mr. Mellor : I have no evidence that the application of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 has been impeded by the confidentiality or privacy requirements of other legislation, but I will keep this matter under review.
London Prison Doctors
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of fully qualified medical doctors employed in each of the London prisons as at 7 February.
Mr. Mellor : The following is the information requested :
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Medical practitioners occupying complemented medical officer posts in London prisons as at 7 February 1990
Establishments |Principal |Senior |Medical Officer|Part-time |Total
|Medical Officer|Medical Officer |Medical Officer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashford |- |1 |1 |- |2
Brixton |1 |1 |6 |2 |10
Feltham |- |- |2 |2 |4
Holloway |1 |1 |3 |2 |7
Latchmere House |- |1 |- |2 |3
Pentonville |- |1 |3 |1 |5
Wandsworth |- |2 |2 |2 |6
Wormwood Scrubs |1 |1 |1 |4 |7
|------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |3 |8 |18 |15 |44
DNA Testing
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is his policy towards legal powers to take samples, such as blood or hair roots, in respect of screening people who there may be no reason to suspect of involvement in the offence ;
(2) what proposals he has for a DNA databank for use in the fight against serious crime ; what type of offences will be covered ; what type of sample will need to be taken ; and whether types of sample such as blood or hair roots will be taken without the consent of the individual concerned ;
(3) whether he will consult the Law Lords on the question which would arise if a doctor was asked to take a blood sample without consent, the question being how to obtain a sample from someone who refuses consent, and may physically resist having a sample taken, and on the question of the acceptability of evidence obtained under duress by the courts ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : My right hon. and learned Friend is still considering the issues set out in the letter which my noble Friend the Minister of State sent to the hon. Member on 7 December. He is currently consulting the British Medical Association and the Association of Police Surgeons on the medical ethics of taking blood samples without consent from suspects in police detention and from convicted offenders. My right hon. and learned Friend will consider what further consultations are necessary in the light of their response. He has no plans to amend the law to enable the police to take blood or other samples from people who are not suspects or convicted offenders and who do not consent. The police are free to ask people to provide samples voluntarily.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to include provisions in his Computer Misuse Bill to promote safeguards to ensure that information stored in a DNA databank would not be open to misuse.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No. The Data Protection Act 1984 already provides appropriate safeguards against misuse of personal data held on a computer database. These include a requirement that the data user must take security measures against unauthorised access.
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the use of DNA material unrelated to crime.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : DNA testing has been used to establish relationship in immigration and paternity cases.
Blundeston Prison
Mr. David Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to publish the prison department's report into the serious disturbance in January at Her Majesty's prison, Blundeston.
Mr. Mellor : As indicated in the reply which I gave to a question by my hon. Friend on 18 January at columns 378-79, the regional director for the south-east region of the prison service is examining the cause of this demonstration. It is not the practice to publish internal management documents but I shall write to my hon. Friend when the regional director's report has been received and considered.
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Management Consultants
Mr. Andrew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oxford, East on 31 January, Official Report, columns 203-4 , who awarded the contracts on (a) the practicality of private sector involvement in the remand system to Deloitte Haskins and Sells in 1988 and (b) the organisation of the prison service above establishment level to PA Consulting Group in 1989 ; what was the cost of each contract ; and if he will list any similar reports commissioned from outside management consultants since 1985 and give their date of completion and cost.
Mr. Waddington : The Home Office awarded a contract to Deloitte Haskins and Sells for a study into the practicality of private sector involvement in the remand system, and another to PA Consulting Group for a review of the prison service organisation above establishment level. For details of the assignment to Deloitte Haskins and Sells I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on 13 February 1990 at column 131 . The duration of the contract awarded to PA Consulting Group for a review of the prison service organisation above establishment level was extended in July 1989 and again in December 1989, and remains extant. The total cost of this assignment will not be available until April 1990. For details of similar reports from outside management consultants awarded and completed since 1985, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on 31 January 1990 at column 203.
Bingo
Mr. Illsley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider amending the appropriate legislation to allow the advertising of bingo games.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 17 January at column 265.
Correspondence
Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for East Lothian dated 11 December 1989 about a claim for a refund of the cost of a passport on the part of Mrs. Cameron of Musselburgh, East Lothian.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : A reply will be sent within the next few days.
Motor Vehicle Pollution
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about offences relating to pollution from motor vehicles since 1987, including excessive smoke emissions and excessive noise ; and whether he will take steps in future to publish annually a separate analysis of such offences.
Mr. John Patten : The available information about offences relating to motor vehicles is published annually in Home Office statistical publications. Summary information is set out in the bulletin entitled "Offences relating to
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Motor Vehicles, England and Wales" ; the most recent, number 34/89, included data for 1988. Detailed information is given in the publication, "Offences relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables". Copies of these publications are available in the Library.Column 604
Details of noise offences, offence group 22, are included in the supplementary tables publications.For information relating to emission of smoke offences, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her question on 15 January 1990 at columns 33-34.
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