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Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 June, Official Report, column 700, if he has signed a certificate under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 since his answer ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has signed no such certificate.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek permission from the respondents to place in the Library their contributions to his consultation exercise on the revised proposal for a data protection directive from the Commission.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The presumption is that responses to the consultation exercise are confidential between the
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contributor and Government, but I shall place a list of respondents in the Library when the consultation is complete, and the hon. Member may wish to approach them direct to ask for a copy of their submission.Betting Shops
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will receive a delegation of betting shop employees before making any decision on the relaxation in licensing hours for betting shops.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We have no present plans to do so. The views submitted by betting office staff following the consultation document published in October 1991 will be taken into account, along with those of all other interested parties.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the evening opening of betting shops on attendances at evening greyhound meetings.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The likely impact is uncertain and would depend on many variable factors. This is one of the issues to which we have been giving careful consideration in the light of the views submitted by greyhoud racing and others during the consultation process.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings Ministers or officials have had with members of the Betting Office Licensees Association since April.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There have been no meetings with Ministers since April 1992, but one has been arranged for 13 January 1993. There have been two meetings with officials.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has had from employees of betting shops about the proposals to extend opening hours into the evening.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Since the consultation document was issued in October 1991, we have received 213 representations from betting office staff. In addition, we have received the results of a survey by A. R. Dennis bookmakers in which 4,167 betting office staff took part.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of the consultative document on the evening opening of licenced betting offices were sent out in (a) 1991 and (b) 1992 ; how many respondents there have been to the document ; how many were in favour and how many were against.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Fifty-eight copies of the consultation document were issued in October 1991. No record has since been kept of the number of copies issued on request. Since October 1991, we have received 824 representations, of which 775 were against evening opening and 49 were in favour. We have also received three petitions with more than 2,000 signatures from greyhound racing supporters opposed to evening opening.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to the petition from Gordon Dennis and the survey carried out by A. R. Dennis among betting office staff concerning evening opening ; and if he will make a statement.
Column 595
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The material submitted by A. R. Dennis is being considered alongside the representations from all other interested parties. We will announce our conclusions as soon as possible.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from members of the public since April over extending the licensing hours of betting shops ; how many have been in favour ; and how many against.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Since April, we have received 199 representations from members of the public, mainly bookmakers, their staff, or those with an interest in greyhound racing. Of these, five were in favour and 194 were opposed. We have also received the results of a survey by A. R. Dennis bookmakers. Of 475 bookmakers who took part, 439 were opposed. Of 4,167 betting office staff who took part, 4,046 were opposed to evening opening.
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that agreement should be reached amongst all affected parties before any relaxation in the licensing hours of betting shops takes place.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I do not consider that such a policy would be either practicable or reasonable.
European Parliament
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the six additional European Parliament seats will be allocated between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Government are developing proposals on how the additional seats allocated to the United Kingdom could best be allocated.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what boundaries the 1994 European elections will be fought following the allocation of six additional seats to the United Kingdom at the Edinburgh summit ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Consideration is currently being given to how the European parliamentary constituency boundaries may be re-drawn to accommodate the six additional seats allocated to the United Kingdom in time for the 1994 European parliamentary elections.
Remand Prisoners
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) adult and (b) juvenile remand prisoners are currently in prison establishments in County Durham.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The following table shows how many adults, young adults and juveniles held in Prison Service establishments in County Durham on 22 December, which is the latest date for which information is available in County Durham.
Column 596
Juveniles
Establishment |A |B |C |D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |0 |0 |0 |0
Low Newton |0 |0 |1 |0
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |0 |0 |1 |0
Key:
A Convicted sentenced inmates.
B Convicted unsentenced inmates.
C Unconvicted remand inmates.
D Unconvicted trial inmates.
Juveniles
Establishment |A |B |C |D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |0 |0 |0 |0
Low Newton |0 |0 |1 |0
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |0 |0 |1 |0
Key:
A Convicted sentenced inmates.
B Convicted unsentenced inmates.
C Unconvicted remand inmates.
D Unconvicted trial inmates.
Juveniles
Establishment |A |B |C |D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |0 |0 |0 |0
Low Newton |0 |0 |1 |0
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |0 |0 |1 |0
Key:
A Convicted sentenced inmates.
B Convicted unsentenced inmates.
C Unconvicted remand inmates.
D Unconvicted trial inmates.
Juveniles
Establishment |A |B |C |D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |0 |0 |0 |0
Low Newton |0 |0 |1 |0
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |0 |0 |1 |0
Key:
A Convicted sentenced inmates.
B Convicted unsentenced inmates.
C Unconvicted remand inmates.
D Unconvicted trial inmates.
Juveniles
Establishment |A |B |C |D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |0 |0 |0 |0
Low Newton |0 |0 |1 |0
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |0 |0 |1 |0
Key:
A Convicted sentenced inmates.
B Convicted unsentenced inmates.
C Unconvicted remand inmates.
D Unconvicted trial inmates.
Juveniles
Establishment |A |B |C |D
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Durham |0 |0 |0 |0
Low Newton |0 |0 |1 |0
|---- |---- |---- |----
Total |0 |0 |1 |0
Key:
A Convicted sentenced inmates.
B Convicted unsentenced inmates.
C Unconvicted remand inmates.
D Unconvicted trial inmates.
Prostitution
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the laws on prostitution ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : We consider that the criminal law is well placed to deal with the nuisance caused by prostitution and have no present plans to review the law in this area.
Prison Education
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many potential contractors have bid to provide prison education services in 1993-94 ; how many bids are from local education authorities ; and how many are from colleges of further education.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : A total of 155 bids have been received to provide future education services in one or a number of prison
establishments. Of these, 121 are from colleges and institutions of further education, 30 from private sector organisations and four from local education authorities.
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the consultancy study undertaken into the prison education service by staff from Coombe Lodge and others, earlier in the current year.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 23 November 1992, Official Report, column 476.
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by individual prison establishment which contractor has been successful in winning the bid to provide education services in 1993- 94.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The contracts for the provision of educational services in prisons and young offender institutions from 1 April 1993 have not yet been let.
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the budgets on a constant price basis for the prison education service for the financial years 1991-92, 1992-93 and the proposed budget for 1993-94.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Expenditure on prison education services in England and Wales is shown in the table, at 1991-92 prices.
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1991-92 £ million |1992-93 £ million|1993-94 £ million
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|30.9
|Provisional
29.5 Outturn |30.4 Budget |budget
United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the management and funding of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The position remains as set out in my reply to a question from the hon. Member on 19 October 1992, Official Report, column 54 .
Yugoslav Nationals
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the 150 and 1,000 former Yugoslav nationals released from detention, and their dependants, announced by the Home Secretary last year, have, to date, been received in the United Kingdom ; what arrangements his Department has made to accommodate these families ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The Government have undertaken, in response to a request from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to accept a total of 1,000 former Yugoslav nationals who have been released from detention camps and their dependants. An initial group of 79 former detainees together with 49 of their dependants arrived on 17 December. We are awaiting confirmation from the UNHCR of the size and timing of arrival of further groups.
We have invited the Refugee Council and the British Red Cross to provide initial reception accommodation for those who wish to take advantage of it. This is being funded by the Government. Following this initial reception period the Refugee Council will arrange more permanent accommodation in the community for the former detainees and their dependants. Some have joined friends or relatives who are already in the United Kingdom, either on arrival or after a short period in reception accommodation.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former Yugoslav nationals visiting the United Kingdom have applied to extend their visit in the last six months, including applying to extend their visa ; how many such applications (a) have been granted, (b) have been refused and (c) a decision is still pending ; how many such visitors he now regards as overstaying ; and how many such visitors have been removed from the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Available information is given in the table. Comprehensive reliable information on the number of applications for extension of stay in this period, and on overstaying, is not available.
Variation of leave decisions<1> on, and removals under enforcement
powers of, nationals of the former Yugoslavia, 1 April-30
September 1992
|Number
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Extensions of stay as visitor<2>
Granted |76
Refused |19
Extensions of stay on other basis<2><3>
Granted<4> |1,117
Refused |93
Removed as illegal entrants<5> |3
Removed under deportation process because of a
breach of conditions of leave to enter or remain<5> |2
<1> Excluding dependants.
<2> Figures may understate a little because of recording problems.
<3> Mainly as students, au pairs or on the basis of marriage.
<4> Excluding grants of settlement.
<5> Figures relate to all persons and not just those who have sought
an extension of stay.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former Yugoslav nationals have applied for political asylum on arrival in the last six months in the United Kingdom ; how many such applications have been (a) granted, (b) refused and (c) are being considered ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : In the six months June to November 1992 a total of 2,040 nationals of the former Yugoslavia (excluding dependants), applied for asylum in the United Kingdom at ports of entry. Aside from 40 applications refused on the grounds that they arrived from safe third countries, the remainder of the applications are still under consideration.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former Yugoslav nationals have been removed or deported from the United Kingdom since August 1992 ; if he will list in each case the country to which the person was removed or deported ; in how many cases the country had indicated prior to removal or deportation it was prepared to accept the person concerned ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : In the period August to October 1992, 29 former Yugoslav nationals were refused leave to enter and removed at United Kingdom ports. The majority of these persons were seeking entry as visitors. The information requested on the receiving countries is not available centrally, except in respect of the asylum seekers removed. No asylum seekers have been returned to Yugoslavia since August ; seven were removed to safe third countries--three to Germany and four to Sweden--in the period August to December 1992. It is not the usual practice to seek the receiving country's agreement to accept a person refused entry. No former Yugoslav nationals were removed as illegal entrants or under the deportation process in August or September 1992. Data for subsequent months are not yet available.
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former Yugoslav nationals, permitted to enter the United Kingdom as visitors since August 1992, have applied for political asylum ; how many such applications have been (a) granted and (b) refused ; how many are being considered ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information is that in the period August to November 1992 a total of 1,490 nationals of the former Yugoslavia (excluding dependants) applied for asylum after entry to the United Kingdom.
Column 600
Comprehensive information on their immigration status on application, or date of arrival in the United Kingdom, is not available.The large majority of these applications are still under consideration.
Probationers
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans for tackling unemployment levels amongst offenders under supervision by the probation service in the current financial year, 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Mr. Jack : The three-year plan for the probation service issued by my Department in December sets an objective for 1993-94 of ensuring effective provision for offenders in relation to employment, partnership with the independent and voluntary sector and others in the local community. Guidance issued in 1990 had already emphasised the importance of working with training and enterprise councils, the Employment Service and others, and in monitoring locally the employment status of offenders at the start and end of probation supervision.
It is for each of the 55 area probation services in England and Wales to draw up detailed plans to achieve this objective which best fits local circumstances within the resources available.
The Association of Chief Officers of Probation operates regional employment forums to discuss best practice in work with offenders to secure employment and training. The Home Office regularly discusses in a national forum with probation service representatives, the Employment Department and the voluntary sector ways of mobilising effective practical assistance for offenders. Discussions with the association and other interested bodies are also in progress about ways in which performance indicators for the work of the probation service should reflect success in ensuring assistance towards employment and training while under probation supervision.
Entry Clearance Officers
Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will issue instructions to United Kingdom entry clearance officers regarding his proposed allowance of up to two consecutive applications per person ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The necessary instructions to give effect to the measures, which I announced on 8 December, to protect the interests of visitors when rights of appeal are removed will be issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before the relevant provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill are brought into force.
Departmental Property
Mr. Straw : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) the total number of residential properties owned by his Department, (b) the number of such properties which are empty and (c) , (b) as a percentage of (a) .
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The number of Home Office residential properties as at 1 January 1993 are as follows :
(a) 2,594 properties are owned by the Department.
(b) 290 (11.18 per cent.) properties are vacant for various
Column 601
reasons. Of this number 209 (8.06 per cent.) are retained for redevelopment or security reasons, retained for essential reallocation or to be demolished and are not, therefore, available for disposal. The remaining 81 (3.12 per cent.) vacant properties are on the open market for sale.The above figures do not include properties owned by the Metropolitan police or other police authorities.
Ex-offenders
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence he has had with the South Glamorgan Probation Service Ex-offenders Employment Forum ; what report he has received of the Minister of State's visit to the forum on 11 November ; if he will place a copy of such correspondence and report in the Library ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : After receiving a letter from the chief probation officer of South Glamorgan I was happy to visit his offices and Her Majesty's prison Cardiff in order to meet members of the offender employment forum and launch the future skills project.
I was most impressed by the successful initiative and co-operation by those involved locally and have thanked the chief probation officer on behalf of all those involved.
Drink Driving
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider increasing periods of driving disqualification and sentences available to the courts for those found guilty of driving motor vehicles with an alcohol content in their blood that exceeds the statutory limit.
Mr. Jack : There is no upper limit on the length of
disqualification that a court can impose for offences relating to driving while under the influence of alcohol. We have no present plans to change the existing penalties which permit courts to impose prison sentences of up to six months and fines of up to £5,000 thus giving the courts the powers to impose appropriate sentences on those convicted of driving with excess alcohol in the blood. For the offence of causing death by drink driving we have announced our intention to raise the maximum penalty from five to 10 years imprisonment as soon a suitable legislative opportunity is available.
Crime Prevention
Mrs. Angela Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's crime prevention policy.
Mr. Jack : During the past decade, the Home Office crime prevention unit set up by this Government has generated many initiatives leading to successful crime prevention activity. This has been undertaken by individual people and individual businesses ; by commu-nity groups like crime prevention panels and neighbourhood watches ; by the police, local authorities and other statutory agencies ; by multi-agency partnerships ; and within specific Government schemes. These include not only the Home Office's safer cities programme, but also the urban programme and city challenge. All this activity is linked by the common thread of the partnership, or
Column 602
multi-agency, approach in which a diversity of interests work together in a local community or for a common cause.The Government intend to build on this good foundation to develop a clear strategy for crime prevention involving all sections of the community.
The four key areas of activity will be as follows :
the number of safer cities projects will be doubled, with a broader management base to bring in a wider range of interests ; a new National Board for Crime Prevention will be set up, after wide consultation with business and voluntary sectors, industry, commerce and the retail world. This should generate new ideas for preventing crime and enable a wide range of expertise to be mobilised, while providing a focal point for smaller groups addressing specific problems. Car crime prevention year has shown how much can be achieved by this kind of approach ; the Ministerial group on crime prevention, reconvened with new membership, will be tasked with overseeing the Government's crime prevention strategy and helping to ensure that Government Departments pursue crime prevention objectives in the implementation of their own policies.
there will be support for crime prevention initiatives which do not fall within the scope of safer cities and other Government programmes. The Government will continue to fund Crime Concern to provide a consultancy service for those who wish to set up crime prevention projects, to promote neighbourhood watch, to develop youth crime prevention and other similar activities ; we will produce a good practice guide for local crime prevention practitioners ; we will fund a number of innovative local projects intended to reduce the likelihood of people turning to crime ; and we will encourage all sections of the community to work with the police to prevent crime. I have placed in the Library of the House a statement providing further details of these new policies.
NHS Premises (Fire Safety)
Ms. Eagle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plan he has to remove Crown immunity from national health service buildings with respect to fire safety legislation ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) what research his Department has carried out into the cost of bringing national health service premises up to the standards required by fire safety legislation ; and what cost was estimated.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [pursuant to his reply, 17 December, c. 437] : The Home Office has conducted no research into the cost of bringing national health service premises up to the standards required by the safety legislation. Individual health authorities and trusts are responsible for estimating and meeting the cost of remedial work.
HEALTH
Mental Illness
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance was given to district health authorities in each financial year since 1981-82 regarding the provision of community facilities for the severely mentally ill.
Mr. Yeo : The Department has issued the following guidance to district health authorities on the development of services for mentally ill people. Copies are available in the Library.
Column 603
|Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HC(84)2 |Health Services Development
|Resource Distribution for 1984-85
|Service Priorities, Manpower and
|Planning |January 1984
HC(85)5 |Health Services Development
|Resource Assumptions and
|Planning Guidelines |January 1985
HC(86)2 |Health Services Development
|Resource Assumptions and
|Planning Guidelines |January 1986
HC(88)43 |Health Services Development
|Resource Assumptions and
|Planning Guidelines |July 1988
HC(89)5 |Discharge of Patients from
|Hospital |February 1989
HC(90)23 |Health and Social Services
|Development Caring for People'
|The Care Programme Approach
|for People with a Mental Illness
|referred to the Specialist
|Psychiatric Services |September 1990
HC(90)24 |Specific Grant for the
|Development of Social
|Care Services for People with a
|Mental Illness |September 1990
HC(90)32 |Supplementary Credit Approval
|for the Development of Social
|Care Services for People with a Mental
|Illness |December 1990
HSG(91)23 |People with a Mental Illness:
|Local Authority Specific Grant
|for 1992-93 |November 1991
HSG(91)25 |People with a Mental Illness:
|Supplementary Credit Approval
|for Capital Funding in 1992-93 |December 1991
EL(92)13 |Implementing Caring for People' |March 1992
EL(92)65 |Implementing Caring for People'
|Guidelines |September 1992
HSG(92)51 |People with a Mental Illness
|Local Authority Specific Grant
|for 1993-94 |December 1992
HSG(92)52 |People with a Mental Illness
|Supplementary Credit Approval
|for Capital Funding in 1993-94 |December 1992
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the different forms of support for the severely mentally ill which packages of community care can comprise.
Mr. Yeo : These are listed in paragraph 5 of "Development of Services for People with Learning Disabilities (Mental Handicap) or Mental Illness in England", the fourth report prepared pursuant to section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (House of Commons paper 342).
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were living in hospitals for the mentally ill in England in each district in each financial year since 1981-82.
Mr. Yeo : The information is not readily available centrally in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Dr. Lynne Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community psychiatric nurses there were in England in each financial year since 1981-82 ; and how many of these were employed wholly or mainly in caring for the severely mentally ill in the community.
Column 604
Mr. Sackville : Information on the number of community psychiatric nurses as at 30 September each year is given in the table.
Whole-time equivalents
|Community
|psychiatric nurses
---------------------------------------------------------
1981 |1,080
1982 |1,240
1983 |1,430
1984 |1,880
1985 |2,310
1986 |2,530
1987 |2,770
1988 |3,080
1989 |3,380
1990 |3,600
1991 |3,760
Note: Figures have been independently rounded to the
nearest 10 whole-time equivalents.
Data are not collected centrally on the number employed wholly or mainly in caring for the severely mentally ill.
Child Care
Mr. Carrington : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action she is taking to improve the effect of the day care registration system introduced in the Children Act 1989 ; and if she will issue more guidance to local authorities on this subject.
Mr. Yeo : A circular LAC(93)1 has been issued today to local authorities in England urging them to use the discretion that the legislation allows them to be less rigid in their approach to the regulation of private and voluntary day care services and childminders and to work to encourage increases in the supply of these services. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The circular sets a new climate for providers and registration authorities, emphasising that, in the interests of children and families, authorities must strike the right balance between ensuring standards and encouraging development of provision. In particular, authorities are reminded, first, that underlying the legislation is a presumption that registration should be granted unless the authority has good reason not to register ; and, secondly, that the standards set in the Department of Health's earlier guidance are not legally prescriptive. They are points of reference to be taken into account by the registering authority in deciding whether an applicant and his/her premises are fit for the care of young children and, if they are to be registered, what conditions should be imposed.
The circular also announces that the Government propose to amend the Food Premises (Registration) Regulations 1991 to exempt childminders registered under the Children Act 1989 from the requirement also to register their premises with Environmental Health Departments.
Intensive Care Beds
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has carried out into computer systems for the allocation of intensive care beds ; which systems have been identified as the most satisfactory ; what guidance is given to health authorities and trusts ; and if she will make a statement.
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