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NORTHERN IRELAND
Crime, Armagh
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which dates (a) break-ins, (b) burglaries, (c) broken windows and (d) damage to premises were reported to the RUC during May, in the Scotch street, Thomas street, Market street, English street sector of the city centre of Armagh ; for which of these dates the RUC has made arrests or charged persons ; and if he will make a statement on policing in the city centre of Armagh.
Mr. Mates : The information available for the area specified is shown in the table :
Incidents reported to the police in
May 1992
Date |Number
---------------------------------------
Attempted break-ins
20 May |1
Total |1
Burglaries
1 May |2
4 May |1
5 May |1
7 May |1
11 May |5
16 May |1
18 May |3
19 May |1
22 May |1
26 May |1
27 May |3
28 May |1
Total |21
Broken/cracked windows
26 May |3
29 May |3
Total
Other damage to premises
28 May |2
31 May |1
Total |3
I am informed by the Chief Constable that a number of arrests have been made in connection with acts of criminal damage in the area. One person has been charged with the three offences committed on 29 May and a person has been charged with the two criminal damage offences committed on 28 May. Police inquiries are continuing. Additionally, in an effort to improve the physical security of premises in the area and to resolve the current problems, the RUC is maintaining close liaison with the local community through the chamber of trade, the district council and other groups affected.
Community Affiliation
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list under the residuary method of determining an employee's community affiliation (DE code of practice) (a) those names to be regarded as Protestants, and those to be regarded as Roman Catholic, (b) those sporting and leisure pursuits to be so regarded, (c) those clubs or societies, membership of which would
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indicate such distinction, (d) those qualifications, examinations and educational clauses which indicate a Protestant or Roman Catholic community affiliation and (e) which occupations would indicate Protestant community affiliation and which would indicate Roman Catholic community affiliation ; and if he will publish this list.Mr. Atkins : It is not possible to compile a list as requested. The residuary method of monitoring allows an employer to consider a range of possible indicators of community affiliation and then to treat the employee, or job applicant, as belonging to the community with which the totality of the information shows he has a connection, or has the stronger connection. This is a matter for the individual judgment of the employer in each particular case.
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of whether the breakdown of Protestants and Roman Catholics in each district council area, based on all those aged 15 to 64 years, is an accurate reflection of the economically active work force.
Mr. Atkins : Estimates from aggregated 1990 and 1991 labour force survey (LFS) data indicate that in 17 out of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland, the religious composition of the economically active population is consistent with the revised 1981 census of population figures for the religious composition of persons aged 15 to 64. In the remaining nine district council areas, the LFS estimates suggest that the Catholic proportion of the economically population is higher than that derived from 1981 census figures based on the population aged 15 to 64.
I understand that the Fair Employment Commission will be publishing, in the near future, LFS estimates on the religious composition of the economically active population in district council areas. Data on the religious composition of the economically active population in each district council area will be contained in the Northern Ireland census 1991 summary report to be published in the autumn.
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring has been done to examine any imbalance in the determining of community affiliation as a result of the numbers of Roman Catholics attending controlled or integrated schools.
Mr. Atkins : Research has shown that, particularly at primary school level, the number of Roman Catholics attending controlled schools does not have any significant effect on employers' monitoring statistics. Integrated schools are not classified for monitoring purposes.
Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
Mr. William Ross : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to introduce a non-fossil fuel obligation for renewable energy following the privatisation of Northern Ireland Electricity ; what form it will take ; and how large the first renewable energy order will be.
Mr. Atkins : The Department of Economic Development has commissioned a study into the potential for renewable energy in Northern Ireland and a decision
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when to introduce a non-fossil fuel obligation awaits the conclusion of that study. Before making a renewables order, the Department is obliged to consult Northern Ireland Electricity plc and the Director General of Electricity Supply and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the likely form or scale of the first order in advance of that consultation taking place.Strip Searches
Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide statistics of the number of women's prisons in Northern Ireland that carry out strip search methods as a form of internal prison security ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Mates : There is only one prison in Northern Ireland holding female prisoners--Her Majesty's prison Maghaberry. Full searching takes place routinely on certain occasions when prisoners enter or leave the prison and at any other time it is deemed necessary for security reasons.
Sports Council
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will earmark cash in the Sports Council grant aid to enable the Sports Council to list the current stock of school playing fields land.
Mr. Hanley : Information on school playing fields is currently held by the Department of Education and is available to the Northern Ireland Sports Council.
Hospital Beds
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the hospitals in Northern Ireland which had consultant obstetric or general practitioner maternity beds in 1990-91, and give the number of beds of each type in each hospital.
Mr. Hanley [holding answer 15 June 1992] : The information requested is as follows :
Average available beds in 1990-91
Hospital |Obstetrics |GP maternity
---------------------------------------------------------
Ards |25.0 |-
Belfast City |64.0 |-
Downe |23.0 |-
Lagan Valley |41.6 |-
Mater |24.0 |-
Royal Maternity |82.9 |-
Ulster |44.1 |-
Eastern Board |304.6 |-
Ballymena Cottage |10.0 |16.0
Mid Ulster |26.0 |-
Moyle |19.0 |-
Robinson Memorial |- |14.0
Route |19.0 |-
Waveney |25.0 |-
Northern Board |99.0 |30.0
Cragavon Area |62.5 |-
Daisy Hill |52.0 |-
South Tyrone |31.9 |-
Southern Board |146.3 |-
Altnagelvin |71.0 |-
Erne |33.0 |-
Tyrone County |33.7 |-
Western Board |137.7 |-
Northern Board |687.6 |30.0
HOME DEPARTMENT
Everton Football Supporters
16. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the case concerning the conviction of the Everton football supporters which had been referred to him ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : I wrote to the hon. Member on 8 June. He will now be aware that we have concluded, after careful consideration, that there are insufficient grounds to justify intervention in the convictions by granting free pardons.
Prisons (Privatisation)
17. Mr. Harris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the benefits which the privatisation initiative will bring to the prison system.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Private sector involvement in the prison service introduces new and different methods of managing modern prisons to high standards of service set by the Government. I am quite sure that the introduction of new private sector management will stimulate improved standards and better value for money.
Crime Prevention
18. Ms. Glenda Jackson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce the crime prevention measures recommended by the committee chaired by James Morgan.
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to implement the recommendations of the Morgan report.
Mr. Jack : The recommendations in the Morgan report ranged wider than had been expected under the working group's terms of reference and have therefore taken longer to consider. The report remains under active consideration within the Department and my right hon. and learned Friend hopes to be able to make an announcement in the near future.
May Inquiry
19. Mr. Byers : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the May inquiry.
Mr. Jack : Sir John May's inquiry is continuing in accordance with the terms of reference given to him in October 1989.
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Police, London
20. Sir Michael Neubert : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to discuss sector policing in the capital.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend will be meeting the commissioner on 14 July to discuss the policing of the Notting Hill carnival.
He will also be visiting Metropolitan police service divisions to see sector policing in action.
Crime Statistics
21. Mr. Hain : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give figures for the change in levels of crime in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) South Wales and (c) Neath since 1979.
Mr. Jack : Between 1979 and 1991 recorded crime increased by 126 per cent. in south Wales and 108 per cent. in England and Wales as a whole. Statistics for Neath are not collected centrally. Statistics for other parts of the United Kingdom are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Northern Ireland.
Crime, Northumberland
22. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further discussions he intends to have with the Northumbria police authority about crime in Northumberland.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans so for further discussions at the moment.
Prisoners (Home Visits)
23. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on releasing prisoners temporarily for home visits.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The prison rules provide that sentenced prisoners may be temporarily released from prison, subject to conditions, for any special purpose or to enable them to engage in employment, to receive instruction or training or to assist them in the transition from prison life to freedom.
A prisoner who has been temporarily released may be recalled to prison at any time whether the conditions of his release have been broken or not.
Remand Prisoners
24. Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to deal with remand prisoners in police cells.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The prison service continues to work to increase the amount of available accommodation in order to reduce the number of prisoners in police cells. In addition to the delivery of a large number of new places under the prison building programme, measures taken so far have included the retention of establishments listed for closure and the conversion of under-occupied young offender accommodation to adult use.
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Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government propose to take to address anomalies in the geographical distribution of remands to prison department custody.Mr. Peter Lloyd : The provision of sufficient places in prison service establishments, which serve the courts by holding inmates remanded in custody or awaiting trial, is a matter which is kept under constant review. Where the current level of provision fails to meet demand or is likely to fail to meet future demand, the prison service seeks to deal with the problem either by changing the role of existing accommodation or through the prison building programme.
Police Numbers
25. Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for increasing police numbers.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The establishments of individual forces were increased by some 800 posts with effect from 1 April 1992. A further 78 police posts have so far been allocated, in respect of policing at ports, airports and the regional crime squads. The vast majority of new posts have been allocated to forces with the greatest relative need for more officers.
Police, West Yorkshire
26. Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet the chief constable of West Yorkshire to discuss staffing levels.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I have no present plans to meet the chief constable of the West Yorkshire police. I look to the force and the police authority to ensure that West Yorkshire has its full complement of officers.
Drug Offences
27. Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total levels of funds sequestrated from convicted drug pushers in the last five years.
Mr. Jack : The latest figures, which are in respect of confiscation orders made between 1987 and 1990, are given in table 7.25 of Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1990, a copy of which is in the Library. These show that over £27 million was ordered to be confiscated in those years. The current estimate by the national criminal intelligence service of the cumulative total of confiscation orders made since the Drug Trafficking Offences Act came into force in January 1987, up to the end of 1991, is around £35 million.
Dame Jill Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have taken place in 1991 in connection with (a) unlawful possession, (b) possession with intent to supply unlawfully, (c) unlawful supply and (d) unlawful import of the drug Ecstasy (MDMA).
Mr. Jack : Figures for 1991 are not yet available. The figures for 1990 were as follows :
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||Ecstasy (MDMA)
United Kingdom 1990 |Number of
|prosecutions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unlawful possession |269
Possession with intent to supply unlawfully |87
Unlawful supply |40
Unlawful import |14
Dame Jill Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the penalties for the selling of the drug Ecstasy (MDMA).
Mr. Jack : MDMA is categorised as a class A drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the maximum penalty for supplying or offering to supply is life imprisonment. Consequently, I have no plans to change this penalty.
Citizenship
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a decision is to be taken on the request made by the hon. Member for Bradford, West on 28 April for an application by Mrs. Y. Afzal of Bradford for British citizenship, reference 420258, to be expedited on compassionate grounds ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : As I have explained in my reply to the hon. Member's letter, we have agreed to give Mrs. Afzal's application priority consideration. Our inquiries are underway and a decision should be possible within the next few weeks.
Criminal Injuries (Compensation)
Mr. Gerrard : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases are currently under consideration by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, broken down by the year of application.
Mr. Jack : The number of applications under consideration at the end of May 1992 was 57,800. A further 11,000 were awaiting the applicant's response to an award offer, and 11,800 were awaiting decision on appeal.
The board does not record the age of applications in the form requested. However, the percentage of cases resolved within certain periods of time is shown in the board's annual reports, copies of which are held in the Library.
Fox Hunting
Ms. Abbott : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on fox hunting.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The Government believe that participation in field sports, including fox hunting, is a matter for the conscience and decision of the individual.
Prisoners (Medical Treatment)
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison inmates have been treated in national health service hospitals in each of the last three years.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The table shows the number of referrals to national health service hospitals for
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out-patient treatment and for in-patient observation or treatment in each of the three financial years up to 1990- 91. Corresponding information for 1991-92 is not yet available. Information about the number of prisoners treated is not held centrally.Referrals |1988-89 |1989-90 |1990-91 ---------------------------------------------------- Out-patient |18,494 |18,740 |18,402 In-patient |1,964 |1,988 |1,887
Age of Consent
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to introduce an equal age of consent in the United Kingdom, regardless of sexual orientation.
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Mr. Jack : We have no such proposals at present.
Police Shootings
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of civilians shot dead by police marksmen in each police authority in England and Wales since 1982, indicating whether the deceased were in possession of firearms, replica firearms or were unarmed, and give the verdicts recorded by coroners' inquests in such deaths.
Mr. Jack : The information requested is set out in the table.
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Year and police authority |Deceased in |Deceased in |Deceased |Inquest
|possession |possession |unarmed |verdict
|of firearms |of replica
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985
West Midlands |- |- |Yes |<1>-
1987
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Open
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
Avon and Somerset |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
1989
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
1990
Metropolitan |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
Cheshire |Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
1991
Northumbria |- |Yes |- |Lawful killing
West Mercia |<2>Yes |- |- |Lawful killing
1992
West Yorkshire |- |Yes |- |Inquest not yet completed
<1> An officer of the West Midlands police was acquitted of the manslaughter of the deceased. The coroner subsequently decided to exercise his discretion
under section 20 of the Coroners Amendment Act 1926 not to proceed with an inquest.
<2> The deceased was in possession of an air pistol which was incapable of being discharged.
Agencies
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Fire Service college as an agency ; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The cost of activities to mark the launch of the Fire Services college as the first Next Steps agency to achieve trading fund status at the outset was about £9,000 and was met by the Home Office.
Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum salary payable, including performance related element, and the length of time of the contract of the chief executive of the Fire Service college.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The final detail of the total remuneration for the chief executive, whose contract runs initially until October 1993, is under negotiation but the maximum is to be set at a figure substantially less than the maximum (£71,800) for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Service.
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Personal Records
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusions he has reached on the implications of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Graham Gaskin for people seeking access to personal records for which he has responsibility ; and what action he intends to take.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The consultative document issued by the Department of Health in February, in the light of this case, recorded the Government's view that the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights applied only to social services records. Consideration is currently being given to the question of whether it has any implications for personal records for which my Department has responsibility.
Sexual Offences
Mrs. Currie : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men were sent to prison in each of the last five years for convictions of gross indecency involving consenting sex with men aged over 16 years and
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under 21 years ; how many such prosecutions have taken place in each of the last five years ; and how many convicted prisoners there are at present.Mr. Peter Lloyd : The table gives information on the offences of indecency between males by a man of the age of 21 or over with another male person under the age of 21--Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 13 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1967, section 3(2). These convictions did not necessarily involve fully consensual behaviour.
Information on the numbers currently serving a custodial sentence in a prison service establishment in England and Wales for this offence is not presently available centrally.
Number of males prosecuted, convicted and sentenced
to immediate custody for the offence of indecency between males
by a man of the age of 21 or over with another male person
under the age of 21
England and Wales
Number
Year |Prosecutions|Convictions |Sentences of
|immediate
|custody
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1986 |245 |225 |23
1987 |270 |264 |26
1988 |292 |250 |13
1989 |404 |361 |21
1990 |445 |353 |8
Prison Population
Mr. Jopling : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those prisons where the population on 4 June was less than the certified normal accommodation for reasons connected to industrial action or refusal to co-operate by the staff.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : On Thursday 4 June there were no prison service establishments in England and Wales where industrial action was causing the population to fall below the certified normal accommodation.
Prison Budgets
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends that prison governors will be allowed to have full, or substantial, control over their budgets.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We are currently considering how the present financial delegations to governors might be extended. Our aim is to introduce any changes on or as soon as possible after the prison service becomes an agency in April 1993.
Dartmoor Prison
Miss Emma Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the current programme for refurbishment at HM prison Dartmoor is likely to be completed.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The building programme now in progress at HM prison Dartmoor (the refurbishment of A, B and D wings, and the construction of a new kitchen, victualling store, administration and visits complex) is scheduled for completion in May 1994.
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Work is due to start later this year on an all weather sports pitch and on a programme to install integral sanitation in F and G wings and the hospital. The remaining wings are due to be refurbished in 1994-95.Juveniles
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many 15-year-olds were sentenced to detention in a young offenders institution in 1990 ; and for what offences they were sentenced.
Mr. Jack : Information for 1990 is given in the table :
Persons aged 15 years sentenced to detention in a
young offender institution by sex and offence
England and Wales-1990
Offence |Male |Female
-----------------------------------------------------------
Indictable offences
Causing death by reckless driving |1 |-
Wounding or other act
endangering life |2 |-
Other wounding etc. |31 |-
Rape |5 |-
Indecent assault on a female |4 |-
Burglary in a dwelling |129 |1
Burlary in a building other than a
dwelling |70 |-
Robbery |34 |3
Theft from the person of another |2 |-
Theft of a pedal cycle |1 |-
Theft from vehicle |11 |-
Theft from shops |7 |-
Theft or unauthorised taking of
motor vehicle |5 |-
Other theft or unauthorised taking |24 |1
Handling stolen goods |9 |-
Arson |16 |1
Other criminal damage |8 |-
Drug offences |3 |-
Going equipped for stealing etc. |4 |-
Blackmail |5 |1
Unlawful assembly |5 |-
Other offence against State or
public order |3 |-
Absconding from lawful custody |1 |-
Failing to surrender to bail |1 |-
Reckless driving |14 |-
Summary offences
Assault on a constable |4 |-
Assault, common etc |1 |-
Offences against public order |2 |-
Interference with motor vehicle |5 |-
Unauthorised taking of a
conveyance |57 |-
Criminal or malicious damage |2 |-
Vagrancy offences |1 |-
Other summary non-motoring
offences |1 |-
Driving while unfit through drink
or drugs |1 |-
Other summary motoring offences |8 |-
Total all offences |477 |7
Bridewell Prison
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the condition and use of holding cells in Bridewell prison, Liverpool ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : In addition to the hon. Member, my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has also
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received letters from the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry) the rector of Liverpool and the high sheriff of Merseyside about the conditions in Liverpool Bridewell.The prison service has received a request from the Merseyside police for the funding of improvements to the holding cells and adjacent areas in Liverpool Bridewell. There are arrangements for the prison service in certain circumstances to meet the cost of essential improvements to accommodation being used by the police to hold prisoners who should be in prison service establishments. The request is being considered and a response will be made as soon as possible.
Police Expenditure
Mr. Adley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much his Department has increased spending on the police in the last year ; and what estimate he has made of the costs incurred directly by the public sector in the provision of policing outside the budgetary responsibility of his Department.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Home Office expenditure on the police increased from £2,435 million in 1990-91 to £2,830 million in 1991-92. Information on the costs of police forces outside Home Office jurisdiction is not held centrally.
Police Radio Transmissions
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to overcome the interception of police radio transmissions by unauthorised persons.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My Department, working closely with the Association of Chief Police Officers, is establishing standing arrangements for the supply of speech privacy devices which will render police radio transmissions unintelligible to the unauthorised listener. It is for individual chief constables to implement this solution.
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