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Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Mr. Doug Hoyle from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993 :
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many prison officers at Blakenhurst are fully trained in control and restraint procedures.
All prisoner custody officers at Blakenhurst are trained in control and restraint techniques, 64 are trained to C & R level III.
Mr. Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work is carried out by the prisoners in Blakenhurst prison ; what is the nature of the contracts under which they work ; how much is paid to the prisoners ; and what happens to the profits made.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Mr. Doug Hoyle from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993 :
The Home Secretary has asked me to respond to your recent Question about work at HMP Blakenhurst.
Prisoners are currently engaged in kitchen, wing servery, domestic cleaning, works, maintenance, garden, orderlies, light assembly and laundry work. Current pay scales average £6.50 per week, but rates vary according to the work undertaken. Revenue accruing from work is used for prisoner pay or to enhance facilities for prisoners.
Liquor Licensing
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses he has had to his consultation on the possible reform of the liquor licensing system in England and Wales ; and if he will place in the Library the names of organisations submitting views.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : By 22 October, we had received 621 written responses to the consultation paper. That total excludes responses concerned only with the proposed abolition of the Welsh Sunday opening polls sent to the Welsh Office. A list of the organisations which have provided responses to the Home Office will be placed in the Library shortly.
Column 457
Criminal Law (Equal Treatment)
Mr. Marlow : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to amend the criminal law to eliminate any instances of unequal treatment between men and women.
Mr. Maclean : There are no general plans to amend the few areas of the criminal law in which there are differences in the way that men and women are treated. We are, however, reviewing the law relating to anonymity in cases involving sexual offences which in practice, although not in principle, may affect men differently from women.
Prisoners (Esapes)
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped since 1 April while in the custody of (a) prison officers, (b) police officers and (c) Group 4 officers.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Mr. Martin Redmond from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993.
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have escaped since 1 April 1993 whilst in the custody of (a) prison officers ; (b) police officers ; and (c) Group 4 officers.
The total number of prisoners who have escaped from prison custody since 1 April 1993 to date is 215. Of this 108 escaped from within establishments and 107 from escort.
The following table shows in whose custody the prisoners were when the escapes took place :
E
|Number
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Prison officers (within prison service establishments) |108
Prison officers (escorts) |92
Group 4 custody officers (within HMP The Wolds) |-
Group 4 custody officers (escorts) (HMP The Wolds) |1
Group 4 custody officers (court escort service) |13
UKDS custody officers (within HMP Blankenhurst) |-
UKDS custody officers (escorts) (HMP Blankenhurst) |1
Total |215
The number of prisoners who have escaped from police custody is not recorded centrally.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial penalty has been imposed on Group 4 in respect of prisoners who have escaped while in its custody ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Mr. Martin Redmond from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993 :
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about escapes of prisoners from the custody of Group 4.
No financial penalty has been imposed on Group 4 in respect of such escapes. Past experience of both the police and the Prison Service has shown that it is not possible to eliminate escapes from escort, other than at unacceptable cost and with the use of unacceptable methods. Group 4 has faced the same difficulties.
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Asylum
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently being detained in Her Majesty's prison establishments awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications ; what is the average length of time they are held in prison ; and what are the comparable figures for (i) 12, (ii) 24, (iii) 36 and (iv) 48 months ago.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information is not available in the form requested. However, on 21 October 1993, 225 asylum seekers had been detained for one month or more in prison establishments including the Home Office holding centre, Haslar. Of these, 76 had been held for between one and three months ; 70 for between three and six months ; and 79 for over six months.
Interview Tapes
Mr. William O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines or regulations are applicable to the police for the retention of tapes used to record routine interviews in the homes of people as to (a) where the tapes are to be stored and (b) for how long such tapes should be retained ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) to what guidelines or regulations the police are subject in respect of first advising people, where discussions with the police are to be tape recorded, that such a recording is to be made ; what specific provisions are applicable where the interview takes place in the interviewee's home ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : These are operational matters which are the responsibility of chief officers.
Prison Service
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of Her Majesty's prison establishments the key objectives reported by the Prison Service for the year 1993-94 ; and what they were for the year 1992-93.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Mr. Martin Redmond from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993 :
KEY TARGETS FOR THE PRISON SERVICE The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about key objectives for prison establishments in 1993-94, and 1992-93.
The Prison Service's key targets for 1993-94 are set out in its Business Plan, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. The Service's objectives, targets and performance indicators for 1992-93 were set out in its Statement of Objectives and Resources, which is also in the Library. Local targets and objectives are agreed by prison governors and Area Managers in the annual establishment "contracts". These are internal management documents which it is not our practice to publish ; and to extract from each the individual objectives and targets could only be done at disproportionate cost.
Telephone Surveillance Warrants
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone surveillance warrants have been signed in each of the past 24 months.
Column 459
Mr. Howard : Statistics on the number of interception warrants issued by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland each year are published in the annual report of the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. To give a more detailed breakdown would not be in the interests of national security or the prevention or detection of serious crime.
Juvenile Prisoners
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by Her Majesty's prison establishment the number of juveniles held in adult prisons currently and (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter to Mr. Martin Redmond from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993 :
JUVENILES HELD IN ADULT PRISONS
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many juveniles are held in adult prisons currently and (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.
I attach tables showing the population of untried, convicted unsentenced and sentenced juvenile inmates held in adult Prison Service establishments on 30 June in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and on 31 August 1993.
Persons aged under 17 (remand) and under 18 (
sentenced) held in adult
prisons in England and Wales on 31 August
1993: by establishment
Establishment |Number<1>
----------------------------------------------
Gloucester |1
Holloway |1
New Hall |1
Pucklechurch |1
|--
All adult prisons |4
<1>Provisional figures.
Persons aged under 17 held in adult prisons
in England and Wales on
30 June 1992: by establishment
Establishment |Number<1>
----------------------------------------------
Lewes |1
Low Newton |1
New Hall |1
Askham Grange |2
|--
All adult prisons |5
<1>Provisional figures.
Persons aged under 17 held in adult prisons
in England and Wales on
30 June 1991: by establishment
Establishment |Number<1>
----------------------------------------------
Birmingham |2
Holloway |1
Hull |7
Lincoln |1
Pentonville |1
|-------
All adult prisons |12
<1>Provisional figures
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Persons aged under 17 held in adult prisons
in England and Wales on
30 June 1990: by establishment
Establishment |Number<1>
----------------------------------------------
Askham Grange |2
Durham |1
Hull |17
Lincoln |1
|-------
All adult prisons |21
<1>Provisional figures
Persons aged under 17 held in adult prisons
in England and Wales on
30 June 1989: by establishment
Establishment |Number<1>
----------------------------------------------
Askham Grange |2
Bedford |1
Birmingham |3
Chelmsford |4
Durham |1
Lincoln |1
Manchester |6
New Hall |1
|-------
All adult prisons |19
<1>Provisional figures
Isle of Man (Driving Disqualifications)
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 October, Official Report, c. 146 , concerning enforcement of Isle of Man driving disqualifications in the United Kingdom, what consideration he has given to introducing such a policy ; and for what reason he has decided not to do so.
Mr. Charles Wardle : None, but we understand that the Isle of Man authorities are considering whether the Isle of Man should seek a system of reciprocal recognition of driving disqualifications with the United Kingdom. We are ready to consider any proposals which they put to us.
Overseas Staff and Premises
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost for the current financial year of his Department having (a) premises and (b) personnel overseas ; and what were the comparable figures for (a) 12, (b) 24, (c) 36 and (d) 48 months ago.
Mr. Howard : The estimated cost in the current financial year of the Department having premises overseas is nil. The estimated cost of having personnel overseas is £3 million.
Detailed information for previous years is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Prison Assaults
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by staff on inmates were reported in 1991, 1992 and to date in 1993 ; and in which prisons they took place.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 19 October 1993] : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Column 461
Letter to Ms Joan Ruddock from Derek Lewis, dated 25 October 1993 :The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many assaults by staff on inmates were reported in 1991, 1992 and to date in 1993.
The following allegations of assault were reported to the Incident Management Support Unit at Prison Service Headquarters.
1991
One allegation at HMP Belmarsh
1992
One allegation at HMP Shepton Mallet
1993 to date
One allegation at HMP Manchester
One allegation at HMYOI Onley
One allegation at HMYOI & RC Feltham
One allegation at HMP Belmarsh
One allegation at HMYOI Northallerton
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Young Offenders
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 15-year-olds sentenced to prison in 1993 to the latest date available received terms of (a) up to one week, (b) one to two weeks, (c) two to four weeks, (d) four to eight weeks, (e) eight weeks to three months, (f) three to six months, (g) six to 12 months and (h) over 12 months ;
(2) how many 15-year-olds sentenced to prison in 1992 received terms of (a) up to one week, (b) one to two weeks, (c) two to four weeks, (d) four to eight weeks, (e) eight weeks to three months, (f) three to six months, (g) six to 12 months and (h) over 12 months.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 19 October 1993] : The table shows for 1992 in England and Wales the number of 15-year-olds sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for all offences by sex, type of court and type of offence. 1993 data will not be available until the autumn of 1994.
Column 461
Number of 15-year-olds sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for all offences England and Wales 1992<1>
|1 week or less |Over 1 to 2 weeks |Over 2 to 4 weeks |Over 4 to 8 weeks |Over 8 weeks to 3 |Over 3 to 6 months |Over 6 to 12 months|Over 12 months |Total
|months
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magistrates Court
Indictable
Males |1 |- |19 |37 |136 |171 |- |- |364
Females |- |- |- |- |- |3 |- |- |3
Summary Non-MOTG
Males |- |- |1 |7 |42 |31 |- |- |81
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Summary MOTG
Males |- |- |1 |- |1 |3 |- |- |5
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
All Offences
Males |1 |- |21 |44 |179 |205 |- |- |450
Females |- |- |- |- |- |3 |- |- |3
Crown Court
Indictable
Males |1 |- |5 |2 |6 |19 |36 |- |69
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1
Summary Non-MOTG
Males |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Summary MOTG
Males |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
All Offences
Males |1 |- |5 |2 |6 |19 |36 |- |69
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1
All Courts
Indictable
Males |2 |- |24 |39 |142 |190 |36 |- |443
Females |- |- |- |- |- |3 |1 |- |4
Summary Non-MOTG
Males |- |- |1 |7 |42 |31 |- |- |81
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Summary MOTG
Males |- |- |1 |- |1 |3 |- |- |5
Females |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
All Offences
Males |2 |- |26 |46 |185 |224 |36 |- |519
Females |- |- |- |- |- |3 |1 |- |4
<1>Provisional
Column 463
NORTHERN IRELAND
Eastern Health and Social Services Board
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which residential homes the Eastern health and social services board proposes to close down ; what is the reason ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : The Eastern health and social services board's four community units of management are currently in the process of consulting publicly on proposals which involve the closure of nine residential homes for elderly people. The homes are Warren house and Drumlough house, Lisburn ; Ardview house, Ardglass ; The Banks,
Column 464
Bangor ; and Cairns house, Old See house, Enler house, James Dixon house, and Marlborough house, all of which are in Belfast. The Government's strategy is to build up domiciliary services so that a greater proportion of elderly people can remain in their own homes if they so wish. The Government also wish to achieve a new balance between services provided directly by the statutory sector and those offered by independent providers.Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what locations there are residential homes controlled by the Eastern health and social services board ; and how many residents each of these homes accommodate.
Mr. Ancram : The information requested is as follows :
Column 463
Statutory residential homes registered with the Eastern health and social services board
Name and address of |Category of care |Number of places
home
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South and East Belfast unit of management
Brae Valley Residential Home, 23 Breda Terrace, Belfast |Elderly Mentally |30
|Infirm
Breda Park Hostel, 6-12 Breda Park, Belfast |Mental Handicap |30
Enler House, Craiglieth Drive, Dundonald |Old and Infirm |47
100 Holywood Road, Belfast |Mental Disorder |10
James Dixon House, Rugby Parade, Belfast |Old and Infirm |30
|Elderly Mentally |10
|Infirm Respite
Killynure House, Church Road, Carryduff, Belfast |Old and Infirm |34
|Elderly Mentally |10
|Infirm Respite
Laird House, 7 Glenluce Walk, Belfast |Elderly Mentally |33
|Infirm
80 Malone Road, Belfast |Mental Handicap |14
Marlborough House, 80 Marlborough Park South, Belfast |Elderly Mentally |27
|Infirm
Mertoun Park Hostel, 17 Mertoun Park, Knocknagoney, Holywood |Mental Handicap |14
Minnowburn House, 61 Old Milltown Road, Belfast |Old and Infirm |49
Trauma Counselling
Rev. Martin Smyth : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many trauma counselling specialists are currently employed by the Department of Health and Social Services ; (2) if he will make a statement on the availability of immediate and expert post-trauma counselling services for people affected by terrorism.
Mr. Ancram : No counselling specialists are currently employed by the Department of Health and Social Services. However, in each of the four health and social services boards, social work staff are available to provide immediate and post trauma counselling services for people affected by terrorism. These counselling services are mainly provided by volunteer social workers with special skills and training. The Voluntary Bereavement Counselling Agency--CRUSE--also offers help to people affected by terrorism.
Column 464
Multiple Sclerosis
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans has he to introduce respite care for multiple sclerosis sufferers in the Down section of the Down and Lisburn unit of management ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : This is primarily a matter for the Eastern health and social services board. Respite care for multiple sclerosis sufferers in the Down area is provided at the multiple sclerosis centre in Dalriada hospital, Ballycastle, and at Thompson house in Lisburn. In addition, the Down and Lisburn unit of management intends to purchase a locally provided package of respite care for multiple sclerosis sufferers and I understand that negotiations to procure this are presently under way.
Column 465
Armagh Health Centre
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many offers have been received for the purchase of Armagh health centre ; and if he will now consider offering the public the opportunity to purchase it.
Mr. Ancram : The general medical practitioners working in Armagh health centre have expressed an interest in buying the premises, and their proposal is being considered by the Southern health and social services board.
A separate offer has been received from the private sector. This is not being pursued, nor is the property being advertised on the open market, because Armagh health centre is not surplus to the requirements of the health and personal social services.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what capital expenditure has been allocated for the Armagh health centre for the present financial year by the Southern health and social services board.
Mr. Ancram None.
Community Care
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Government's community care policy in the constituency of South Down ; and what further action he proposes to take to improve the provision of care in the community.
Mr. Ancram : The Department of Health and Social Services and health and social services boards have put in place comprehensive arrangements for the monitoring of the community care reforms, introduced on 1 April 1993, with the three local units of management of the Eastern and Southern boards, which together serve the constituency of South Down, monitoring their community care activity and expenditure on a monthly and quarterly basis. This information contributes to the Department's overall evaluation of the implementation of community care policy and will inform decisions on the provision of community services within the constituency. The Department is currently undertaking the first six month performance review of the new community care arrangements which will be completed later this year.
Housing Executive
Mr. A. Cecil Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of Housing Executive properties (a) demolished and (b) replaced in each of the Province's district electoral areas for each year since 1979.
Mr. Atkins : I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 October 1992 at cols. 290-92. The chief executive of the Housing Executive has advised me that the information which is readily available for 1992-93 is as follows :
District Council |Demolished |Replaced Area -------------------------------------------------------------------- Antrim |17 |- Ards |- |16 Armagh |7 |2 Ballymena |- |9 Ballymoney |- |- Banbridge |1 |- Belfast |514 |322 Carrickfergus |69 |- Castlereagh |- |- Coleraine |- |- Cookstown |- |- Craigavon |54 |20 Derry |3 |63 Down |- |13 Dungannon |2 |- Fermanagh |- |- Larne |59 |3 Limavady |- |- Lisburn |4 |- Magherafelt |- |- Moyle |- |- Newry and Mourne |- |15 Newtownabbey |152 |- North Down |- |- Omagh |- |7 Strabane |1 |- Note: This does not cover the Housing Executive's total new-build programme but relates mainly to the replacement of dwellings in redevelopment areas and of unfit dwellings in housing action areas. It also includes replacement dwellings for obsolete purpose-built stock such aas Orlit dwellings, aluminium bungalows and rural cottages.
Fishing Vessels
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the closing date for applications for
decommissioning payments for fishing vessels ; how many applications were received ; when the applicants will receive a decision ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Ancram : The closing date for receipt of applications under the Fishing Vessel (Decommissioning) Scheme 1993 was 31 July. Sixty-eight applications were received from Northern Ireland, of which 28 were successful. All applicants were informed on 22 September of the outcome of their applications.
Undergraduates
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many undergraduates there were at each of the campuses of the Ulster university in the academic year 1992-93 ; and how many were from the Republic of Ireland at each location.
Mr. Ancram : The information is as follows :
Campus |Total Number of |Number of
|Undergraduates<1> |Undergraduates from
|Republic of Ireland
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belfast |667 |55
Coleraine |3,485 |614
Jordanstown |7,028 |508
Magee |1,576 |329
|--- |---
Total |12,756 |1,506
<1>includes part-time undergraduates.
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