| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. McLoughlin : Fifty-one skillcentres, of a total of 60, were sold when the Skills Training Agency was privatised in 1990. The remaining nine, at Letchworth, Portsmouth, Reading, Twickenham, Perivale, Chesterfield, Northampton, Southampton (Millbrook) and Chelmsford were closed by the Department on 31 July 1990. The operation of the sold centres is the responsibility of the purchasers and not of the Department, but I understand that some 43 continue to function.
Column 340
Competitive Tendering
Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the changes to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 contained in the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill will have on local authority competitive tendering ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : One of the provisions in the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill, published on 5 November, is to extend the applications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to transfers of undertakings which are not
"in the nature of a commercial venture".
These regulations provide for the transfer of employment rights when an undertaking is transferred to a new employer. There has been some misunderstanding about this amendment and its possible effects have been exaggerated in some press comments.
It has been suggested that the amendment extends the application of the regulations to the public sector and to compulsory competitive tendering for local authority services for the first time, and that people not covered in the past may now have a claim for retrospective compensation. The fact is that the regulations have always covered the public sector, including local authority services, as well as the private sector. Whether or not they apply in any individual case, however, depends on the facts of that case, and there are a number of tests to be applied.
Column 341
For example, it needs to be shown that an undertaking or part of an undertaking has actually been transferred. This test has always applied and will continue to apply.The Government are of the view that the regulations will not normally apply where a local authority contracts out in-house services, since such a transaction does not generally involve the transfer of an undertaking within the meaning of the regulations. The facts need to be considered in each case to see whether all the necessary criteria which determine whether the regulations apply have been satisfied. There will be no change in this position as a result of the amendments to the regulations proposed in the Bill. The only relevant changes we are making in the Bill are as follows. It will no longer be necessary to show that the undertaking is in the nature of a commercial venture and property will not have to be transferred for there to be a transfer of an undertaking. These changes are required to bring the wording into line with the EC acquired rights directive and to clarify its interpretation. The changes in the Bill do not imply that past cases should have been decided differently, because other criteria may have been relevant to those decisions ; nor can it be assumed that future cases will be decided differently.
Training and Enterprise Councils
Mr. Faber : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what strategic guidance she is giving to TECs for 1993-94 ; and if she will make a statement.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard : Strategic guidance for 1993-94 on training, vocational education and enterprise will be issued today to all TECs. I am pleased that, this year, it is being published jointly with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, emphasising a consistent, coherent strategy across government. The guidance builds on the six strategic priorities identified in earlier documents and sets out the key issues for TECs to address in their plans for the coming year. Copies of the guidance "The Strategy for Skills and Enterprise" have been placed in the Library.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Aid to Africa
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy for the additional funding granted to African countries during 1991-92 to total £30 million or more.
Mr. Lennox Boyd : The year 1991-92 was an exceptional year for major humanitarian needs ; £60 million was added to the overseas aid vote to enable the Overseas Development Administration to respond to humanitarian needs, including famine in the Horn of Africa. In 1991, we provided almost £54 million bilateral humanitarian assistance to the Horn of Africa. To date in 1992, we have already pledged, from existing programme resources, £112 million bilateral assistance--including balance of payments support, food and non-food assistance--to relieve famine in Africa. Of this, £61 million has been for the Horn of Africa.
Column 342
Tanzania
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are used in determining the amount of aid given by the United Kingdom to Tanzania (a) bilaterally and (b) through the EC.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We take a number of factors into account when allocating bilateral aid to individual countries. These include the comparative poverty of the country concerned, and the effectiveness with which our aid can be used. We consider whether the country has adopted policies which will help to promote economic growth and social progress and to combat poverty. The quality of government in the country concerned is an integral part of our assessment. The overall allocation of funds for the European development fund--EDF--is decided by the member states. The Commission then draws up national indicative programmes--NIPs--for individual countries based on the priorities set out in the Lome convention. The overall allocation for Tanzania for EDF VII is 195 mecu for commitment over the period 1992 to 1997. Individual projects are then put to a management committee on which the Overseas Development Administration is represented. The same criteria are applied to the Commission's proposals as we apply to our own bilateral programme.
Sir Thomas Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 9 November, Official Report, columns 553-54, if he will list the capital and technical co- operation projects in Tanzania supported by the EC ; and the total cost of the projects in each case.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : Capital and technical co-operation projects funded by the EC in Tanzania since 1981 total 225.5
mecu--approximately £184 million at current exchange rates--and are listed in the table.
Project |Total cost of
|project (ecus)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training Programme 1981-85 |462,411
Attendance at Trade Fairs |25,380
Mtwara Water Supply |5,065,492
Phase 2 Agriculture Project Tringa |10,569,323
Morogoro Canvas Mill |2,500,000
Mwanza Water Supply |6,590,240
Coffee Development Programme |12,848,002
Training of Irrigation Engineers |815,131
Study Banana Pest Control in Kagera Region |56,955
Road from Idetero to Paper Mill (Supp Fin) |8,456,155
Study Rehabilitation of Zanzibar-Pemba Port |49,317
Technical Assistance Rehabilitation Hospital
Zanzibar and Pemoa |267,199
1st Annual Microprojects Programme |643,239
Tanzania Trade Promotion Programme |154,884
Tanzania Tourism Promotion |185,137
Technical Assistance Food Strategy Tanzania |238,560
Region Rinderpest Control Programme |1,376,470
Nyanguge-Dunda-Musoma Road |16,761,620
Technical Assistance Ports Zanzibar and Pemba |134,930
Extensions Mbeya Water Supply System |2,975,465
Coffee Development Programme Phase 2 |8,556,784
Morogoro Canvas Mill Management |2,200,000
Tanzania Industrial Research and Development
Organisation Tirdo |1,471,515
2nd Annual Microprojects Programme |442,792
Banana Improvement Pest Control |967,812
Rehabilitation Zanzibar Hospitals Phase 1 |1,066,044
Co-operative and Rural Development Bank |1,478,557
Study Tanzania Seed Industry |88,630
Rehabilitation Zanzibar Hospitals Phase 2 |2,557,142
Rehabilitation Zanzibar Ports |9,890,767
Moroco Shoe Factory |35,000
|-------
Total funded under Lome II (European
Development Fund 5) 1981-85 |106,930,953
|-------
Food Security Agriculture Sector Programme |17,416,116
Coffee Production Marketing Agriculture Sector |13,346,696
Co-operatives Agriculture Sectors |4,255,605
Vehicle Tractor Repair Agriculture Sector |10,264,599
Road Maintenance Agriculture Sector |13,157,609
Managing Unit Assistance to Agricultural Sector |5,485,449
Rehabilitation Zanzibar Ports |13,690,820
1st Programme of Microprojects |135,554
Emergency Programme, Tanzania Railways
Corporation |1,997,945
Musoma Sirari Road Study |502,865
Morogoro Canvas Mill Management |3,296,296
Study Telecom Network South West Tanzania |38,522
Study Rehabilitation STDL Dairy Plants |11,617
Incentive Goods for Tanzania |6,079,753
Sectoral Import Programme |15,378,360
Mtwara Audit Financing |59,991
Sector Import Programme |7,975,323
Seminar Public Enterprise Reform |36,782
Study Management Development Zanzibar Ports |59,334
Livestock Service Development |187,436
Study Telecom Southern Highlands |146,377
Feeder Roads in South West |4,067,335
Conservation Historic Buildings |179,664
Ibanda Uyole Road |666,635
Data Base Financial Control System |30,581
|-------
Total funded under Lome III (European
Development Fund 6) 1986-90 |118,467,264
|-------
Serengeti Region Conservation Strategy |108,933
|-------
Total funded under Lome IV (European
Development Fund 7) |108,933
Source: European Commission
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Nuclear Plant
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total cost to date in (a) historic costs and (b) 1992 prices of clean-up programmes and retrofitted technology installed at (i) Sellafield, (ii) Capenhurst, (iii) Springfields, (iv) Chapelcross, (v) Harwell, (vi) Dounreay and (vii) Risley, respectively, to protect the environment against radioactive and toxic contamination.
Mr. Eggar : This is a matter for the operators of the sites concerned.
Radioactive Waste
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what subsidies have been made available to British Nuclear Fuels in each year since 1971, to cover the long-term treatment, storage and final disposal of
Column 344
high-level radioactive wastes from (a) foreign spent fuel imported under contracts signed up to December 1975 and (b) spent fuel sent to Sellafield by Nuclear Electric, Scottish Nuclear and their predecessor companies ;(2) what subsidy has been made available by Her Majesty's Government to British Nuclear Fuels for the disposal of low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes arising from contracts signed for reprocessing imported spent nuclear fuel (a) up to December 1975 and (b) since January 1976.
Engine Emissions Consortium
Mr. Cousins : To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total cost to his Department of supporting the vehicle emissions consortium's programme ;
(2) when the vehicle emissions consortium programme was concluded ; what action he has taken as a result ; and if he will place a copy of its reports in the Library.
Mr. Eggar : The total grant contribution from my Department in support of the United Kingdom engine emissions consortium's programme of research into petrol and diesel technologies amounted to £1,810, 815. The last project in the programme concluded on 31 July 1992. The 11 collaborators in the consortium are the main beneficiaries of the research conducted. They are obliged to take reasonable steps to exploit the results of the projects in which they participated and, if necessary, to co-operate with my Department in securing an alternative person or persons to undertake such exploitation. In addition, my Department will ensure that the results of the programme, once fully evaluated, will contribute to United Kingdom policy formation on vehicle emissions legislation.
Consortium members are preparing public presentations on the programme. I shall ensure that copies of these are placed in the Library of the House. Reports on the results of the programme provided to the Department by the member companies in the consortium contain commercially confidential information. It is open to the hon. Member to contact Perkins Technology Ltd. of Peterborough, the central co-ordinator of the programme, which will seek the agreement of the member companies to provide the hon. Member with more specific project information.
Albania
Mr. David Atkinson : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department is providing British companies in creating the opportunities to trade with Albania.
Mr. Needham : The Albania trade section within my Department provides general information about the market and answers specific questions about market opportunities. In addition, the world aid section and the export intelligence service publicise the opportunities in Albania which arise from the activities of the multilateral funding agencies.
My officials also work closely with counterparts in the joint assistance unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to ensure that British companies are aware of opportunities under the know-how fund.
Column 345
Assisted Area Status
Mr. Vaz : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the meeting between Leicestershire county council on 3 November and the Minister for Industry regarding assisted area status for travel-to-work areas in the county.
Mr. Sainsbury : I found my meeting with Leicestershire county council interesting and useful. The points raised at the meeting will be carefully considered in the review of the assisted areas map.
Piper Alpha
Dr. Godman : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the condition of the site of the Piper Alpha and of the removal of hazardous or toxic materials which could affect those engaged in maritime activities ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Eggar : Conditions attached to the Piper Alpha abandonment programme approved by the then Secretary of State for Energy include requirements for samples of sediment, sea water, fish and shellfish to be obtained and examined for the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls--PCBs-- and radioactivity. Surveys were carried out in 1989, 1990 and 1991. The levels of PCBs and radioactivity in water, fish and shellfish, and of radioactivity in sediments, were all within the background levels found elsewhere in the North sea. Some sediment samples taken within 500 m of the platform showed elevated levels of PCBs, but these were not increasing. The measurements of PCBs in water, fish and shellfish, and in sediments further out appear to indicate that the PCBs in the sediments close to the remains of the installation are not giving rise to elevated levels in the biota. The conditions provide for repetition of the surveys and sampling for PCBs biennially until my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is satisfied that there is no significant risk to the marine environment from PCBs associated with transformers formerly located on the installation. In addition, samples taken after 1994 will be examined for radioactivity.
The conditions also required that within a radius of500 m the seabed should be surveyed to determine the position of any remains of the installation. This was done in 1990 and will be repeated in 1993 and biennially thereafter until my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is satisfied that any movement of debris will not cause unjustifiable interference with fishing. Outside the 500 m zone, to a radius of 1,500 m, the conditions required that the seabed be surveyed and trawled to recover debris identified, and that any debris too large or heavy to be lifted in a trawl should be recovered by other means. This operation will be completed next year.
Gas Pipelines
Mr. Hinchcliffe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has on the future construction of gas pipelines, to the United Kingdom from Europe and non-European nations.
Mr. Eggar : I am not aware of any decisions by companies wishing to proceed with the construction of new gas pipelines from Europe or a non- European country
Column 346
to the United Kingdom. The then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy announced to the House on 30 January 1992 that a group of companies had begun a feasibility study of a gas pipeline from the United Kingdom to the continent, with a view to initial exports of United Kingdom gas. Construction of a planned gas pipeline between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is due to begin shortly.Gas (Electricity Generation)
Mr. Hinchcliffe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of gas used for electricity generation is not provided by British Gas and United Kingdom-based companies.
Mr. Hinchcliffe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are his projections for non-United Kingdom gas consumption for (a) the next decade and (b) the next 50 years in the electricity generating industry.
Mr. Eggar : In 1991 the United Kingdom imported 7 billion cu m of Norwegian gas, almost all from the Frigg field. Production from this field is declining rapidly and will cease around 1997. Some additional gas from the Frigg area will be imported from 1993 for around 16 years. On 30 January 1992 the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy announced that the Government would facilitate two imports of Norwegian gas for sale to National Power and an independent power generation project. These are the only firm proposals to import gas of which I am aware.
The review my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 21 October will look into the latest estimates of likely gas reserves, and will consider the scale of gas-generated power stations in production, in build and in the planning process.
Deep-mine Coal
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies have been undertaken into the costs associated with re-opening deep -mine coalfields and the feasibility of such operations.
Mr. Eggar : British Coal has gained significant experience of the feasibility and cost of putting closed deep mines on to a care and maintenance basis with a view to possible re-opening. In recent years four major closed mines--Carway Drift, Frances, Monktonhall and Thorne--have been put on to a care and maintenance basis and one--Monktonhall--is being prepared for re-opening by the Monktonhall Mineworkers Consortium.
Regulation Costs
Mr. Betts : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was (a) the cost of the regulation in 1991-92 and (b) the number of staff employed by (i) the Office of Electricity Regulation, (ii) the Office of Gas Supply and (iii) the Office of Telecommunications.
Mr. Neil Hamilton [holding answer 18 November 1992] : Details of the staffing and running costs of Offer, Oftel, and Ofgas are given in the annual reports by each director general. Copies of the reports are in the Library of the House. The most recent reports available give the following information :
Column 347
|Annual report |Staff |Annual cost (£
|million)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFER |1991 |<1>206 |<2>9.255
OFTEL |1991 |<1>143 |<3>7.5
OFGAS |1991 |28 |<3>1.9
<1> Average throughout year.
<2> Expenditure.
<3> Budget.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Victims Charter
14. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress of the victims charter.
Mr. Jack : The charter was published in February 1990 and sets out the rights and expectations of victims of crime. It contains some 50 standards by which compliance with the charter can be judged. A recent exercise showed that 57 per cent.--31 standards--had been achieved and 39 per cent.--21 standards--were in the process of being achieved, a total of 96 per cent.
Birmingham Pub Bombings
15. Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the police inquiry into the Birmingham pub bombings to be completed ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The chief constable of West Midlands police is responsible for the conduct of the investigation into the Birmingham pub bombings. It would be improper for me to comment in any way on this investigation while it is continuing.
Car Crime
16. Ms. Lynne : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to reduce car crime in the north-west.
Mr. Jack : As part of Car Crime Prevention Year we have sought to engage the whole community in a concerted effort to tackle car crime. Among the practical measures being taken in the north-west by Greater Manchester police are the promotion of vehicle watch schemes, the distribution of information packs on car security and the setting up of a special police unit to tackle car crime.
Police forces throughout the north-west have made a positive contribution to Car Crime Prevention Year and in the 12 months of the year ending June 1992 both Greater Manchester and Merseyside forces reported a fall in the level of car crimes.
Our safer cities projects in Rochdale and Salford have also taken action to educate the public in car security and have organised and funded projects aimed at diverting young people from car crime.
25. Sir John Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response there has been from British car manufacturers to the Car Crime Prevention Year.
Column 348
Mr. Jack : Many car manufacturers have responded very positively to the message of Car Crime Prevention Year by contributing or promising support estimated to be worth more than £3 million.
In addition, many more new cars are now being fitted with security systems as standard equipment and security features are being given a much higher profile in the manufacturers' advertisements.
24. Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review current legislation available to deal with those who steal cars and subsequently kill and maim.
Mr. Jack : The relevant law is constantly reviewed ; and action to strengthen it has been taken recently. The Aggravated Vehicle-Taking Act 1992 has significantly increased the powers of the courts to deal with both drivers and passengers in a stolen car which causes damage, injury and death. In addition, we have recently announced an intention to double the maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving from five to 10 years imprisonment.
21. Mr. Wolfson : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he can report arising from Car Crime Prevention Year ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : So far, Car Crime Prevention Year has been a highly successful campaign and I am pleased to say that the quarterly car crime figures for April to June 1992 show a reduction of over 2.5 per cent. on the corresponding quarter of 1991. While we cannot draw too many conclusions from this change, I hope that it is the start of a welcome trend.
22. Mr. Whittingdale : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to receive advice from outside his Department about the future of the car crime prevention initiative.
Mr. Jack : I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that I have recently formed a committee comprising people who are actively involved in all areas of car security and car crime prevention to advise me on these matters and we met for the first time on 20 October.
This committee brings together senior representatives from the motor manufacturers, the security equipment industry, motoring and consumer associations, the retail and leasing sectors, the insurance industry and the police.
Crime (Northumbria)
17. Mr. Clelland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will next meet representatives of Northumbria police authority to discuss crime levels in the area.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State is currently arranging to meet representatives of Northumbria police authority.
Prison Building Programme
18. Mr. Streeter : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the Government's prison building programme.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Eighteen of the 21 new prisons in the Government's current building programme have now
Column 349
opened, providing nearly 9,500 additional places. The remainder will open within the next 18 months, providing a further 1,800 places. In addition, this year we shall be spending some £200 million on improving the existing estate.The Government's future plans include two new prisons, providing 1, 200 places, on which construction work will begin in 1995-1996, as well as a continued high level of investment in the modernisation of existing prisons.
Immigration (Carriers' Liability)
19. Sir Fergus Montgomery : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines due under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 were waived in the most recent year for which figures are available ; and what was their total value.
Mr. Charles Wardle : For the 12 months ending 30 September 1992 the total value of charges waived was £1,758,000. Information about the number of charges is not available.
Concealed Weapons
20. Lady Olga Maitland : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to empower police officers to conduct random searches for concealed weapons.
Mr. Charles Wardle : No. Our view remains that compulsory searching should be allowed only where a police officer reasonably suspects that a weapon is being carried.
Safer Cities Initiative
23. Dr. Twinn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the main achievements of his Department's safer cities initiatives ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : Safer cities has successfully put into practice the partnership approach under which local agencies act in concert to identify and tackle local crime problems ; and the programme has supported a wide range of local crime prevention schemes with encouraging results in terms of reduction in crime and fear of crime.
Community Service Orders
26. Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use being made of community service orders.
Mr. Jack : The courts are making increasing use of community service orders. In 1991, a total of 41,200 community service orders were started, an 8 per cent. increase over 1990.
Special Constables
27. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to extend the use of special constables.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The deployment of special constables in individual forces is a matter for chief
Column 350
constables. With the help of Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary, we are encouraging forces to make the widest and most imaginative use of special constables.28. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of special constables ; and what the figure was 12 months ago.
Mr. Charles Wardle : At 31 December 1991, the number of special constables in England and Wales was 18,072. This represents an increase of 14 per cent. on the total for 1990.
Images of Drugs"
Mr. David Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement following his visit to the exhibition "Images of Drugs" in Southwark.
Mr. Jack : The exhibition, which was opened by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, brings together the knowledge and experience of local people into a creative picture in a variety of media about the effects of drugs misuse. The exhibition is now on tour throughout the borough to schools, youth clubs, local business sites and others requesting the project for their own drug prevention purposes. It gives the people of Southwark a chance to speak in their own language about the effects of drugs on their community. The opening event, which I attended with the princess, also provided a splendid opportunity for some of the excellent local projects sponsored by the Southwark drugs prevention team to publicise their activities. I am confident that royal and ministerial attendance will have encouraged future activities, by providing a high profile focus for drugs prevention in Southwark.
In European Drugs Prevention Week, I am particularly glad to have the opportunity of praising the exhibition. It is a splendid example of how the Home Office drug prevention initiative is mobilising all sections of the community--including the business community--both in recognising the major challenge which they face and in their commitment to work together to find solutions.
Drug Offences
Mr. Milburn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a table showing, for each police force area in England and Wales, the number of notifiable drug offences by category in each year since 1985 and the total for England and Wales.
Mr. Jack : The only notifiable offence which is drugs related is that of "trafficking in controlled drugs". This information for 1985-90 is published annually in table 3.1 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary tables" ; copies of which are available in the Library. Information for 1991 is contained in the following table :
Notifiable offences of trafficking in controlled drugs-1991
Police force area |Number of offences
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |262
Bedfordshire |49
Cambridgeshire |79
Cheshire |315
Cleveland |86
Cumbria |133
Derbyshire |129
Devon and Cornwall |226
Dorset |221
Durham |85
Essex |238
Gloucestershire |123
Greater Manchester |868
Hampshire |391
Hertfordshire |179
Humberside |179
Kent |551
Lancashire |384
Leicestershire |65
Lincolnshire |141
City of London |20
Merseyside |506
Metropolitan Police District |2,096
Norfolk |217
Northamptonshire |93
Northumbria |143
North Yorkshire |100
Nottinghamshire |112
South Yorkshire |225
Staffordshire |117
Suffolk |247
Surrey |103
Sussex |546
Thames Valley |299
Warwickshire |78
West Mercia |160
West Midlands |300
West Yorkshire |608
Wiltshire |91
Dyfed-Powys |103
Gwent |117
North Wales |126
South Wales |268
|---
England and Wales |11,379
May Inquiry
Miss Lestor : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the projected total cost of the Sir John May inquiry ; and what has been the cost to date.
Mr. Jack : The current projected final cost of Sir John May's inquiry is £1,930,000. As at the end of October 1992, the inquiry, which was set up in October 1989, had incurred expenditure of £1,357, 000.
Prisoners' Requests
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners' requests or complaints referred to governors are answered within seven days.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The figure requested is not readily available and I will write to the hon. Member.
Ms. Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners' requests or complaints referred to area managers are answered within six weeks (a) in total and (b) in each prison service area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : During the period April to September 1992, 69 per cent. of area managers' answers to prisoners' requests or complaints were sent within six weeks. For individual areas the figures were :
| Next Section
| Home Page |