| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average length of
Column 167
sentence imposed on persons convicted for Northern Ireland-related offences in Great Britain in each year since 1969 ;(2) what has been the average length of sentence imposed by the courts since 1973 on a terrorist convicted of Northern Ireland terrorist-related activities, excluding homicide, in England and Wales ;
(3) what has been the average length of sentence imposed by the courts since 1973 on a terrorist convicted of Northern Ireland terrorist-related activities, excluding homicide, in Scotland.
Mr. Jack : The available statistics are contained in Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics on the Operation of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976--29 November 1974 to 26 March 1984"--tables 4 and 5, issue number 10/84, and "Statistics on the Operation of Prevention of Terrorism Legislation--1992"--tables 5 and 6, issue number 5/93, copies of which are in the Library.
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average length of sentence imposed by the courts since 1970 on a terrorist convicted of a Northern Ireland-related homicide in England and Wales.
Column 168
Mr. Jack : All 10 suspects who have been convicted of a Northern Ireland-related homicide in England and Wales since 1970 were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the occupations, by census classification or other categorisation, of each person killed on the European mainland in violence related to the security situation in Northern Ireland since 1969.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The available information, which may not be completely accurate, is :
1 Child
1 Diplomat
1 Driver
1 Housewife
8 Service personnel
6 unknown
Security Situation
Mr. McNamara : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the annual number of arrests and convictions directly related to the security situation in Great Britain since 1969.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The available information relates to convictions following detention under prevention of terrorism legislation. This is contained in the Home Office statistical bulletin, issues 10/84 and 5/93.
Column 169
HOME DEPARTMENT
Young Offenders
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of places required in secure training units for the 11 to 15 years age group which he announced on 2 March ; and if he will publish the evidence on which he bases that estimate.
Mr. Jack : Work is proceeding on the development of detailed plans for the introduction of the new secure training order for persistent juvenile offenders between the ages of 12 and 15, including an assessment of the number of places likely to be required.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 10 March, Official Report, column 557, when he expects to be able to provide an initial rough figure for the capital costs of (a) the individual units and (b) the total programme of secure training units for the 11 to 15 age groups announced on 2 March.
Mr. Jack : As my right hon. and learned Friend indicated in his statement on 2 March, columns 139-42, it is envisaged that the centres will be provided through agreements with suitable organisations which may come from the public, voluntary or private sectors provided that they can demonstrate the ability to meet the standards we shall be setting and to give value for money. Both the capital and revenue costs involved in implementing secure training orders are likely, therefore, to depend, inter alia, on a process of competitive tendering. This will take place once specifications have been drawn up.
Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 9 March, Official Report, column 478, if he will give the reasons for the Government's view that corporal punishment is not an acceptable way of dealing with offenders.
Mr. Jack : There are considerable doubts about the effectiveness of corporal punishment as a deterrent. The courts had largely stopped using this form of punishment before its abolition in 1948, not least because of evidence which seemed to indicate that its use was counterproductive ; those who were flogged were found to be more likely to commit further offences than similar offenders who were not subjected to corporal punishment.
Moreover, the use of corporal punishment would be contrary to the United Kingdom's obligations under article 3 of the European convention on human rights which states that no one shall be subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Thames House
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is being spent on the refurbishment and structural work at Thames house.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The projected outturn cost of the work on Thames house is £238 million.
Column 170
Police (Discipline)
Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 430, from which police authorities the 19 police officers retired.
Mr. Charles Wardle : My answer of 22 February contained an inaccuracy, for which I apologise. The number of police officers who had retired after disciplinary charges had been brought against them, but before those charges had been heard should have been given as 18, not 19. The police authorities from which the 18 officers retired in 1991 are set down in the table :
|Number
--------------------------------
Cambridgeshire |3
Durham |1
Gloucestershire |1
Lancashire |2
Merseyside |1
Northumbria |1
South Wales |3
Surrey |1
Sussex |2
Thames Valley |2
West Midlands |1
|-------
Total |18
United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the plans for a new voluntary body to take over the general immigration work of the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I announced on 8 July 1992, columns 202-203, that the Government had decided to terminate the grant in aid paid to UKIAS and that my right hon. and learned Friend had invited Mr. Humfrey Malins to lead a small planning group, outside Government, to draw up proposals for a new voluntary body which would receive grant under section 23 of the Immigration Act 1971 and would take over UKIAS's general immigration work.
After consulting widely, the planning group completed its proposals at the end of last year and published its report on 29 January. A copy is in the Library of the House. The Government have now considered this report and have concluded that the trustees of an organisation constituted and structured as the planning group proposes would be able to meet their responsibilities under charity law and to satisfy the Home Office that there would be proper accountability for the grant paid. Accordingly, my right hon. and learned Friend is asking the planning group now to take steps to implement its proposals and establish the new body as outlined in the report.
The Government are most grateful to Mr. Malins and the members of the planning group for their work on the report and for their willingness to take their proposals forward, and also to the Reverend David Haslam and members of the standing executive committee who have formed an interim administration to run UKIAS during the transitional period so that the service to immigration appellants can continue.
Column 171
Immigration (Prison Detention)
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently being detained in prison as a result of immigration procedures ; and what information he has on the length of time they have been held.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : On 31 January 1993, there were 299 detainees held in prison service establishments in England
Column 172
and Wales under the Immigration Act 1971. The latest available information relating to the period of detention is for 31 August 1992 and is given in the table.Column 171
Population of persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971 in prison service establishments
in England and Wales on 31 August 1992 by length of detention<1>
Length of
detention<1>
|1 day to 1 month |Over 1 month to 2 |Over 2 months to 3|Over 3 months to 6|Over 6 months |Total detainees
|months |months |months
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 August 1992 |51 |28 |25 |63 |55 |222
<1>Time which had been served by 31 August 1992.
Market Testing
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost to date of the market test exercise in relation to establishment division 5 information systems and pay services.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Up to 31 March 1993 the cost of the market test of ED5 information systems and pay services is expected to be £217,000.
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial arrangements he proposes to make with potential contractors in his market testing of establishment division 5 information systems and pay services to cover liabilities under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : The potential contractors will be required to take account of the possible implications of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and the EC acquired rights directive in their bids.
Mr. Hall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require all prospective contractors for the work of the establishment division 5 information systems and pay services to be certificated to BS 5750 and hold the "TickIt" qualification.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : Prospective contractors will need to demonstrate that they can deliver the service to an acceptable quality standard, such as the BS 5750 and "TickIt" qualification.
Genetic Engineering
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make representations to his EC partners to secure that all EC genetic engineering regulations are cross-linked with those on animal experimentation and welfare.
Mr. Charles Wardle : We ensure that appropriate opportunities are taken to remind our EC partners of the need to bear in mind the principles of EC directive 86/609/EEC on animal experimentation when considering genetic engineering matters.
Column 172
Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 to include films shown on television, in private clubs, and in video form.
Mr. Charles Wardle : We have no plans to amend the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937.
Animal Experimentation
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to impose a statutory requirement upon all those undertaking work under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to receive compulsory training.
Mr. Charles Wardle : From 1 April 1994 applicants for personal licences will be required to have completed successfully an accredited training programme. In addition to this, from 1 April 1995, first-time project licence applicants will require further pre-licensing training, to be acquired from accredited training programmes.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to secure the formation of animal care and use committees at all establishments designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The regulatory system established under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 places responsibility on the holder of a certificate of designation issued under section 6 to ensure proper standards of animal care and use at his or her establishment. In discharging that responsibility, it is open to the certificate holder to establish an animal care and use committee according to local circumstances and need. There are no plans to require such committees at all designated establishments.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the conditions of the code of practice on housing and care of laboratory animals to cover breeding and supply establishments.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to an earlier question from the hon. Member on 3 November 1992, column 128 .
Column 173
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the number of his departmental inspectors to undertake work in relation to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
Crime Statistics
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many crimes have been committed by those aged 18 years and younger each year since 1983 ;
(2) what was the total number of convictions for all offences in each year since 1983.
Mr. Jack : Information on "known offenders"--those found guilty or cautioned--by age is published annually in the Command Paper "Criminal Statistics England and Wales". Table 5.23 of the 1988 and 1991 publications gives the requested data for indictable offences back to 1983.
Figures showing the number of convictions for all offences are also published annually in the above-mentioned publication. Table 5.8 of the 1991 issue gives figures back to 1981.
A copy of this publication is available in the Library. 1992 data will not be available until the autumn of 1993.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were convicted for committing crimes involving the use of firearms in each year since 1979 ;
(2) how many people are currently serving prison sentences for committing crimes that involved the use of firearms.
Mr. Jack : Information for the years 1979, 1980, 1987 and 1989 to 1991 on the number of persons convicted of offences involving the use of firearms in England and Wales is given in the table. Information about other years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information is not held centrally about the number of persons currently serving prison sentences for offences that involve the use of firearms. However in 1991, 1,261 offenders were sentenced at the courts in England and Wales to immediate custody for indictable offences and 15 for summary offences which all involved the use of firearms.
1992 data will not be available until autumn 1993.
Number of offenders convicted of offences
involving the use of
firearms by type of offence 1979, 1980,
1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991
England and Wales
Year |Indictable|Summary
--------------------------------------------
1979 |2,830 |6,139
1980 |3,073 |5,915
1987 |2,569 |1,827
1989 |3,008 |1,378
1990 |3,157 |1,169
1991 |3,289 |934
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in each year since 1983.
Mr. Jack : The available information is for notifiable offences recorded by the police. Statistics for 1983 to 1991 were published in table 2.24 of the 1991 volume of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". The latest available figures are for the 12 months ending June 1992 and were published in Home Office statistical bulletin 31/92. Copies of both are available in the Library.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving the use of firearms were committed in each police authority in each year since 1979.
Mr. Jack : Statistics on notifiable offences recorded by the police in which firearms were reported to have been used by police force area were published in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", supplementary tables 1989 Vol. 3--for the years 1979 to 1989 and 1991 Vol. 3--for the years 1990 and 1991--table S3.1(A). Copies of these publications are in the Library.
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving physical violence were reported in each year since 1983.
Mr. Jack : The available information is for notifiable offences recorded by the police. Violent crime which involves physical violence or the threat of physical violence come within the offence groups of violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery. Statistics for 1983 to 1991 were published in table 2.24 of the 1991 volume of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". The latest figures are for the 12 months ending June 1992 and were published in Home Office statistical bulletin 31/92. Copies of both are available in the Library.
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences were committed, in total, and by category of offence, in the Metropolitan police district, in each of the six months up to the latest available date.
Mr. Jack : The available information is for notifiable offences recorded and is shown in the table.
Column 173
Notifiable offences recorded by the police by offence group
Number of
offences
Metropolitan Police |January 1992 |February 1992 |March 1992 |April 1992 |May 1992 |June 1992
District
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violence against the person |2,793 |2,624 |2,848 |3,043 |3,062 |3,696
Sexual offences |410 |415 |428 |445 |449 |543
Burglary |18,244 |15,907 |16,803 |15,942 |13,859 |15,415
Robbery |1,743 |1,666 |1,908 |1,935 |1,830 |2,094
Theft and handling stolen goods |37,443 |36,624 |40,026 |38,638 |36,613 |40,359
Fraud and forgery |3,554 |3,324 |3,489 |3,471 |3,022 |3,872
Criminal damage |14,445 |13,596 |15,432 |14,867 |13,724 |13,695
Other offences |599 |612 |543 |573 |589 |549
|--- |--- |--- |--- |--- |---
Total |79,231 |74,768 |81,477 |78,914 |73,148 |80,223
Drivers (Drugs)
Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted for driving under the influence of illegal drugs in each year since 1979.
Mr. Jack : This information is not separately identifiable in the statistics collected centrally.
Crime Prevention
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to place a statutory responsibility upon local authorities to allocate a budget for crime prevention measures.
Mr. Jack : No. It is for individual local authorities to determine their expenditure priorities within overall budgets.
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans for the greater involvement of local authorities in (a) crime prevention and (b) protection to the general public from the effects of crime.
Mr. Jack : Local authorities are already closely involved in crime prevention and the protection of towns and neighbourhoods through their participation in the delivery of a number of the Government's housing and inner city initiatives, including city challenge, estates action and the safer cities programme. Outside these programmes, the Government welcome the increasing development by local authorities of their own community safety strategies and action plans, in partnership with the police and other agencies, following guidance issued to them in Home Office circular 44/90 (Welsh Office circular 28/90).
Wolds Prison
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department's operational guidelines and circulars concerning the prison service are issued to Her Majesty's prison Wolds.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : If the contractor is required, under the terms of the contract, to follow prison service practice or procedures then the appropriate guidelines or circulars are issued to him.
Primates
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a United Kingdom register of breeding primates.
Mr. Charles Wardle : There are no plans for a register exclusively for the United Kingdom. The Primate Society of Great Britain has suggested the establishment of a European primate register, and we have raised this idea with our EC partners. These discussions are at an early stage.
Column 176
Dog Breeders
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation to control and restrict the activities of dog breeders and dealers.
Mr. Charles Wardle : None. Establishments where dogs are bred for sale are already subject to the controls of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973. The controls of the 1973 Act were strengthened by the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991.
Pet Animals Convention
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ratify article 10 of the Convention on the protection of pet animals.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Ms Quinn) on 19 November 1992 at column 293.
Hong Kong (Passports)
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British passports giving the right of entry to Britain have been issued to citizens of Hong Kong in each of the last three years.
Mr. Charles Wardle : Registrations under the British nationality (Hong Kong) selection scheme commenced on 25 May 1991. Between then and 6 March 1992, 3,405 British citizen passports were issued in Hong Kong to scheme beneficiaries. The corresponding figure for 7 March 1992 to 6 March 1993 was 18,767.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for the appointment of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis ; and to whom the appointee is subsequently responsible.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is appointed by her Majesty the Queen. He subsequently conducts the business of that office under the direction of the Secretary of State.
Policing Costs
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police authorities, with the sum involved in each case, affected by the reduction in class IX, vote I, sub-head D2, "special grants for policing costs", in the spring supplementary estimates.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke : No police authorities were affected by this reduction, which was due to a lower than anticipated level of grant being due in support of payments made by assisted police authorities.
Column 177
| Next Section
| Home Page |