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Mr. Eggar [holding answer 25 April 1994] : My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade does not have powers to overturn these appointments. Where regulators and others are required to consult the President of the Board of Trade, they do so, and take account of the response. The question of overturning appointments does not therefore arise.
PRIME MINISTER
State Property, Downing Street
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Prime Minister (1) who maintains the inventory of state property at Downing street ;
(2) who is the appointed auditor responsible as part of his duties for checking the Downing street inventory ; when the inventory was last checked ; and what was the result of that check.
The Prime Minister There is no single inventory of state property at No. 10. Separate inventories are maintained for differing purposes. Those responsible for maintaining them are also responsible for making periodic checks of the items against inventory. Cabinet Office internal auditors are free to check the inventories at any time they wish.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Civil Servants (Dismissal)
Sir Keith Speed : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants who have been the subject of adverse published reports have been dismissed during the past 12 months.
Mr. David Davis : Civil servants, like other employees, can be dismissed only if personal culpability is established
Column 173
in the course of properly constituted disciplinary or criminal proceedings. A number of such proceedings have resulted in dismissal during the last 12 months, although details are not held centrally and I am not aware of any such civil servants who have been named in adverse published reports.Forward Look
Mrs. Browning : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the first Forward Look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology will be published.
Mr. Waldegrave : The first Forward Look of Government-funded science, engineering and technology is being published today. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses. I am also placing in the Libraries copies of the advice we have received from outside bodies on the Forward Look.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Leytonstone Fire Station
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will clarify the London fire and civil defence authority's proposals for reducing the effect of diesel exhaust emissions from fire appliances turning out from Leytonstone fire station on that fire station's personnel.
Mr. Charles Wardle : I am informed by the chief fire officer that provision has been made in the minor improvements programme for 1994-95 for the staircase at Leytonstone fire station to be altered and enclosed.
Police Authorities
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state by police authority in England (a) the cost of police per unit D of council tax, (b) the number of police per square mile and (c) expenditure per head of population.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The information is given in the table. Police coverage by area is normally expressed as hectares per officer.
Cost of police per unit D of council tax, hectares covered per police
officer and expenditure on the police per head of population
Police force |Cost per unit D of |Hectares covered |Expenditure per head
|council tax<1> |per officer<2> |of population<3>
|(£) |(£)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |263 |155 |90
Bedfordshire |268 |105 |89
Cambridgeshire |265 |275 |86
Cheshire |245 |121 |83
Cleveland |395 |39 |113
Cumbria |317 |574 |103
Derbyshire |273 |142 |85
Devon and Cornwall |254 |351 |89
Dorset |238 |204 |91
Durham |330 |175 |92
Essex |254 |122 |91
Gloucestershire |273 |223 |98
Greater Manchester |397 |18 |116
Hampshire |236 |127 |83
Hertfordshire |223 |88 |87
Humberside |347 |173 |100
Kent |273 |119 |98
Lancashire |325 |95 |99
Leicestershire |270 |138 |83
Lincolnshire |290 |490 |91
Merseyside |494 |14 |139
Norfolk |248 |371 |82
Northamptonshire |300 |199 |94
Northumbria |363 |154 |104
North Yorkshire |246 |586 |87
Nottinghamshire |324 |92 |96
South Yorkshire |345 |51 |96
Staffordshire |283 |123 |87
Suffolk |247 |308 |82
Surrey |229 |88 |98
Sussex |219 |126 |85
Thames Valley |241 |151 |90
Warwickshire |275 |194 |97
West Mercia |235 |361 |80
West Midlands |397 |13 |113
West Yorkshire |382 |39 |111
Wiltshire |273 |295 |97
City of London |19,979 | 0.34 |12,772
Metropolitan |522 |7 |207
<1> Based on estimated expenditure for 1993-94 and 1993-94 taxbase.
<2> Based on police force establishment at 31 December 1993.
<3> Based on estimated expenditure for 1993-94 and population as at June 1992.
Prison Sentences
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to require criminals convicted of murder or serious physical offences against police officers to be sentenced to a fixed period of imprisonment to which only special limited rules of remission would apply ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : Life imprisonment is already the mandatory sentence for murder of a police officer. There are no plans to introduce mandatory sentences for other offences committed against police officers or to introduce special release arrangements for offenders convicted of such offences.
Physical Restraints
Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prison governor and doctor are always informed when a prisoner is put into physical restraint ; 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 from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 27 April 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about prisoners put into physical restraints. In a prison, if a prisoner is put into physical restraints, other than the temporary application of ratchet handcuffs, the governor and medical officer must be informed.
Where a prisoner is escorted outside the prison, for example to attend court, the medical officer need not be told if handcuffs are to be used, since it is the normal presumption that they will be used. If any other form of restraint is to be used outside the prison, the medical officer must be informed.
Column 175
Police Officers
Mr. Mike O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female officers there were in each constabulary and at each rank per constabulary in England and Wales in (i) 1980, (ii) 1985, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 1993.
Column 176
Mr. Charles Wardle : Information for 1990 and 1993 is provided in tables 1 and 2. Information for 1980 and 1985 in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Tables 3 and 4 show police strength by rank for those years. Information on overall proportions of male and female officers in each force is contained in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, copies of which are in the Library.
Column 175
Table 1
Police service in England and Wales
Strength for ordinary duty return for 31 December 1990
Male ranks
Police force name |Chief Constable |Deputy Chief |Assistant Chief |Chief Superintendent|Superintendent |Chief Inspector |Inspector |Sergeant |Constable |Total male ranks |Total police ranks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |1 |1 |3 |13 |38 |67 |149 |463 |2,034 |2,769 |3,059
Bedfordshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |15 |20 |50 |138 |689 |920 |1,064
Cambridgeshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |12 |24 |59 |189 |772 |1,064 |1,186
Cheshire |1 |1 |2 |6 |22 |33 |105 |270 |1,235 |1,675 |1,898
City of London |1 |1 |1 |6 |11 |20 |53 |118 |494 |705 |796
Cleveland |1 |1 |2 |6 |17 |26 |86 |230 |959 |1,328 |1,485
Cumbria |1 |1 |1 |7 |19 |24 |69 |188 |749 |1,059 |1,189
Derbyshire |1 |1 |2 |7 |25 |33 |92 |251 |1,155 |1,567 |1,751
Devon and Cornwall |1 |1 |2 |13 |35 |47 |131 |446 |1,910 |2,586 |2,867
Dorset |1 |1 |1 |5 |16 |22 |69 |187 |826 |1,128 |1,272
Durham |1 |1 |2 |4 |17 |28 |78 |209 |913 |1,253 |1,364
Essex |1 |1 |3 |11 |31 |59 |122 |423 |1,911 |2,562 |2,884
Gloucestershire |1 |1 |1 |6 |14 |20 |56 |165 |786 |1,050 |1,158
Greater Manchester |1 |1 |6 |26 |92 |127 |395 |1,024 |4,458 |6,130 |7,010
Hampshire |1 |1 |3 |11 |36 |53 |132 |466 |2,146 |2,849 |3,170
Hertfordshire |1 |1 |2 |7 |22 |31 |87 |240 |1,032 |1,423 |1,659
Humberside |1 |1 |2 |8 |23 |36 |106 |312 |1,341 |1,830 |1,989
Kent |1 |1 |3 |12 |36 |46 |171 |413 |1,934 |2,617 |2,988
Lancashire |1 |1 |3 |13 |39 |72 |159 |507 |2,065 |2,860 |3,199
Leicestershire |1 |1 |1 |7 |22 |30 |102 |274 |1,141 |1,579 |1,784
Lincolnshire |1 |1 |0 |4 |10 |24 |64 |194 |788 |1,086 |1,205
Merseyside |1 |1 |3 |18 |60 |79 |256 |727 |2,967 |4,112 |4,679
Metropolitan Police |6 |14 |31 |153 |249 |502 |1,428 |4,181 |18,046 |24,610 |28,152
Norfolk |1 |1 |1 |6 |17 |22 |65 |194 |972 |1,279 |1,394
Northamptonshire |1 |1 |1 |6 |13 |22 |71 |165 |752 |1,032 |1,144
Northumbria |1 |1 |3 |13 |49 |61 |189 |508 |2,361 |3,186 |3,528
North Yorkshire |1 |1 |2 |7 |14 |25 |76 |203 |917 |1,246 |1,379
Nottinghamshire |1 |1 |2 |8 |28 |32 |128 |329 |1,604 |2,133 |2,342
South Yorkshire |1 |1 |3 |11 |38 |43 |163 |440 |1,964 |2,664 |2,984
Staffordshire |1 |1 |2 |11 |31 |49 |121 |328 |1,367 |1,911 |2,193
Suffolk |1 |1 |1 |6 |17 |18 |56 |177 |795 |1,072 |1,195
Surrey |1 |1 |2 |7 |22 |24 |90 |244 |1,055 |1,446 |1,654
Sussex |1 |1 |3 |10 |32 |39 |175 |441 |1,984 |2,686 |2,984
Thames Valley |1 |1 |3 |11 |35 |47 |174 |481 |2,461 |3,214 |3,706
Warwickshire |1 |1 |0 |5 |14 |16 |61 |155 |651 |904 |1,014
West Mercia |1 |1 |2 |11 |27 |40 |126 |290 |1,277 |1,775 |2,022
West Midlands |1 |1 |4 |25 |78 |118 |375 |1,034 |4,256 |5,892 |6,881
West Yorkshire |1 |1 |5 |19 |69 |79 |279 |793 |3,416 |4,662 |5,276
Wiltshire |1 |1 |1 |6 |16 |24 |58 |182 |752 |1,041 |1,157
Dyfed Powys |1 |1 |1 |7 |13 |21 |36 |152 |615 |847 |936
Gwent |1 |1 |1 |5 |14 |17 |46 |154 |668 |907 |1,001
North Wales |1 |1 |2 |7 |25 |27 |66 |203 |868 |1,200 |1,339
South Wales |1 |1 |3 |14 |39 |62 |175 |528 |2,028 |2,851 |3,123
Total all forces |48 |56 |118 |548 |1,452 |2,209 |6,549 |18,616 |81,114 |110,710 |125,060
Column 175
Police service in England and Wales
Strength for ordinary duty return for 31 December 1990
Female ranks
Police force name |Chief Constable |Deputy Chief |Assistant Chief |Chief Superintendent|Superintendent |Chief Inspector |Inspector |Sergeant |Constable |Total female ranks |Total police ranks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |4 |12 |273 |290 |3,059
Bedfordshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |8 |132 |144 |1,064
Cambrideshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |5 |115 |122 |1,186
Cheshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |2 |22 |196 |223 |1,898
City of London |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |10 |78 |91 |796
Cleveland |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |8 |7 |140 |157 |1,485
Cumbria |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |4 |125 |130 |1,189
Derbyshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |8 |6 |167 |184 |1,751
Devon and Cornwall |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |3 |14 |263 |281 |2,867
Dorset |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |0 |3 |7 |132 |144 |1,272
Durham |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |0 |4 |105 |111 |1,364
Essex |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |7 |23 |291 |322 |2,884
Gloucestershire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |105 |108 |1,158
Greater Manchester |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |4 |13 |47 |815 |880 |7,010
Hampshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |12 |305 |321 |3,170
Hertfordshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |2 |11 |222 |236 |1,659
Humberside |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |2 |6 |149 |159 |1,989
Kent |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |2 |21 |345 |371 |2,988
Lancashire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |6 |17 |313 |339 |3,199
Leicestershire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |5 |13 |185 |205 |1,784
Lincolnshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |4 |4 |109 |119 |1,205
Merseyside |0 |0 |1 |0 |3 |2 |6 |36 |519 |567 |4,679
Metropolitan Police |0 |0 |0 |3 |8 |13 |29 |261 |3,228 |3,542 |28,152
Norfolk |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |7 |106 |115 |1,394
Northamptonshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |3 |107 |112 |1,144
Northumbria |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |4 |16 |319 |342 |3,528
North Yorkshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |10 |121 |133 |1,379
Nottinghamshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |9 |198 |209 |2,342
South Yorkshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |4 |13 |300 |320 |2,984
Staffordshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |14 |265 |282 |2,193
Suffolk |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |1 |5 |115 |123 |1,195
Surrey |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |12 |194 |208 |1,654
Sussex |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |1 |19 |276 |298 |2,984
Thames Valley |0 |0 |0 |1 |3 |1 |4 |21 |462 |492 |3,706
Warwickshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |3 |3 |103 |110 |1,014
West Mercia |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |11 |233 |247 |2,022
West Midlands |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |1 |15 |58 |912 |989 |6,881
West Yorkshire |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |2 |10 |27 |574 |614 |5,276
Wiltshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |7 |107 |116 |1,157
Dyfed Powys |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |85 |89 |936
Gwent |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |4 |87 |94 |1,001
North Wales |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |8 |129 |139 |1,339
South Wales |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |3 |15 |253 |272 |3,123
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total all forces |0 |0 |1 |9 |30 |52 |181 |819 |13,258 |14,350 |125,060
Column 177
Table 2
Police service in England and Wales
Strength for ordinary duty return for 31 December 1993
Male ranks
Police force name |Chief Constable |Deputy Chief |Assistant Chief |Chief Superintendent|Superintendent |Chief Inspector |Inspector |Sergeant |Constable |Total male ranks |Total police ranks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |1 |1 |3 |9 |29 |51 |159 |452 |1,993 |2,698 |3,034
Bedfordshire |1 |1 |1 |4 |13 |15 |56 |148 |754 |993 |1,168
Cambridgeshire |1 |1 |1 |2 |13 |23 |60 |189 |823 |1,113 |1,266
Cheshire |1 |1 |1 |4 |19 |29 |104 |269 |1,219 |1,647 |1,873
City of London |0 |1 |0 |5 |9 |18 |54 |124 |556 |767 |884
Cleveland |1 |1 |2 |0 |11 |20 |83 |204 |926 |1,248 |1,414
Cumbria |1 |1 |1 |6 |15 |21 |70 |182 |734 |1,031 |1,185
Derbyshire |1 |1 |2 |5 |21 |30 |92 |258 |1,171 |1,581 |1,790
Devon and Cornwall |1 |1 |3 |9 |37 |47 |134 |444 |1,879 |2,555 |2,908
Dorset |1 |1 |1 |6 |17 |24 |70 |191 |821 |1,132 |1,292
Durham |1 |1 |1 |5 |16 |20 |76 |208 |906 |1,234 |1,389
Essex |1 |0 |3 |10 |31 |53 |131 |431 |1,888 |2,548 |2,947
Gloucestershire |1 |1 |1 |4 |11 |22 |57 |161 |746 |1,004 |1,140
Greater Manchester |1 |1 |5 |22 |76 |112 |403 |996 |4,443 |6,059 |7,047
Hampshire |1 |1 |3 |5 |37 |42 |143 |484 |2,132 |2,848 |3,270
Hertfordshire |1 |1 |2 |5 |20 |32 |87 |236 |1,033 |1,417 |1,679
Humberside |1 |1 |2 |8 |15 |35 |98 |290 |1,362 |1,812 |2,028
Kent |1 |1 |3 |10 |26 |45 |178 |420 |2,034 |2,718 |3,182
Lancashire |1 |1 |3 |9 |34 |63 |165 |484 |1,977 |2,737 |3,140
Leicestershire |1 |1 |1 |6 |17 |25 |103 |267 |1,169 |1,590 |1,838
Lincolnshire |1 |0 |1 |4 |12 |19 |62 |185 |779 |1,063 |1,203
Merseyside |1 |1 |3 |17 |58 |71 |252 |705 |2,904 |4,012 |4,663
Metropolitan Police |5 |13 |28 |113 |212 |452 |1,362 |4,262 |17,286 |23,733 |27,605
Norfolk |1 |1 |1 |5 |14 |23 |65 |203 |970 |1,283 |1,434
Northamptonshire |1 |1 |1 |4 |14 |22 |68 |161 |772 |1,044 |1,181
Northumbria |1 |1 |2 |10 |36 |57 |168 |500 |2,402 |3,177 |3,589
North Yorkshire |1 |0 |2 |4 |11 |23 |69 |195 |876 |1,181 |1,333
Nottinghamshire |1 |1 |2 |6 |24 |27 |123 |323 |1,549 |2,056 |2,337
South Yorkshire |1 |1 |3 |12 |35 |43 |160 |430 |1,945 |2,630 |3,015
Staffordshire |1 |1 |2 |8 |23 |40 |117 |330 |1,352 |1,874 |2,202
Suffolk |1 |1 |1 |5 |16 |18 |63 |178 |779 |1,062 |1,216
Surrey |1 |1 |1 |6 |19 |18 |82 |249 |1,062 |1,439 |1,667
Sussex |1 |1 |2 |6 |28 |36 |172 |430 |1,952 |2,628 |2,977
Thames Valley |1 |1 |2 |9 |35 |43 |185 |486 |2,565 |3,327 |3,894
Warwickshire |1 |1 |1 |3 |14 |16 |55 |152 |641 |884 |1,025
West Mercia |1 |1 |2 |7 |24 |36 |128 |284 |1,308 |1,791 |2,056
West Midlands |1 |1 |4 |20 |76 |95 |363 |978 |4,295 |5,833 |6,968
West Yorkshire |1 |1 |4 |8 |49 |70 |258 |728 |3,227 |4,346 |4,988
Wiltshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |11 |20 |65 |185 |825 |1,114 |1,273
Dyfed Powys |1 |1 |1 |3 |13 |20 |41 |150 |617 |847 |966
Gwent |0 |1 |1 |4 |11 |14 |44 |149 |649 |873 |989
North Wales |1 |1 |1 |7 |21 |26 |67 |215 |845 |1,184 |1,341
South Wales |1 |1 |3 |7 |32 |51 |165 |496 |2,098 |2,854 |3,142
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total all forces |45 |52 |108 |407 |1,255 |1,967 |6,457 |18,412 |80,264 |108,967 |125,538
Column 179
Police service in England and Wales
Strength for ordinary duty return for 31 December 1993
Female ranks
Police force name |Chief Constable |Deputy Chief |Assistant Chief |Chief Superintendent|Superintendent |Chief Inspector |Inspector |Sergeant |Constable |Total female ranks |Total police ranks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |5 |17 |312 |336 |3,034
Bedfordshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |5 |11 |159 |175 |1,168
Cambridgeshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |10 |141 |153 |1,266
Cheshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |4 |24 |196 |226 |1,873
City of London |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |5 |6 |105 |117 |884
Cleveland |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |5 |12 |148 |166 |1,414
Cumbria |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |5 |147 |154 |1,185
Derbyshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |4 |7 |195 |209 |1,790
Devon and Cornwall |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |6 |19 |328 |353 |2,908
Dorset |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |12 |145 |160 |1,292
Durham |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |1 |7 |146 |155 |1,389
Essex |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |11 |23 |364 |399 |2,947
Gloucestershire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |7 |128 |136 |1,140
Greater Manchester |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |4 |17 |65 |899 |988 |7,047
Hampshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |6 |19 |396 |422 |3,270
Hertfordshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |13 |247 |262 |1,679
Humberside |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |11 |203 |216 |2,028
Kent |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |2 |36 |423 |464 |3,182
Lancashire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |7 |24 |370 |403 |3,140
Leicestershire |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |2 |4 |14 |226 |248 |1,838
Lincolnshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |2 |10 |125 |140 |1,203
Merseyside |0 |0 |1 |0 |2 |3 |11 |53 |581 |651 |4,663
Metropolitan Police |0 |0 |0 |4 |7 |8 |39 |297 |3,517 |3,872 |27,605
Norfolk |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |7 |141 |151 |1,434
Northamptonshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |7 |128 |137 |1,181
Northumbria |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |7 |16 |386 |412 |3,589
North Yorkshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |4 |4 |143 |152 |1,333
Nottinghamshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |5 |9 |267 |281 |2,337
South Yorkshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |3 |1 |25 |354 |385 |3,015
Staffordshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |3 |12 |311 |328 |2,202
Suffolk |0 |0 |0 |0 |2 |0 |1 |7 |144 |154 |1,216
Surrey |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |5 |19 |204 |228 |1,667
Sussex |0 |0 |1 |0 |1 |0 |3 |32 |312 |349 |2,977
Thames Valley |0 |0 |0 |2 |3 |2 |8 |30 |522 |567 |3,894
Warwickshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |3 |2 |135 |141 |1,025
West Mercia |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1 |2 |17 |245 |265 |2,056
West Midlands |0 |0 |0 |1 |1 |4 |20 |76 |1,033 |1,135 |6,968
West Yorkshire |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |3 |13 |28 |597 |642 |4,988
Wiltshire |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |9 |146 |159 |1,273
Dyfed Powys |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |7 |112 |119 |966
Gwent |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3 |5 |108 |116 |989
North Wales |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4 |7 |146 |157 |1,341
South Wales |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |4 |23 |260 |288 |3,142
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total all forces |0 |0 |3 |11 |27 |54 |237 |1,044 |15,195 |16,571 |125,538
Column 179
Table 3
Police Service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1980
Police Force |Chief Constable |Deputy Chief |Assistant Chief |Chief Superintendent|Superintendent |Chief Inspector |Inspector |Sergeant |Constable |Totals
|Constable |Constable
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |1 |1 |3 |13 |38 |70 |148 |465 |2,223 |2,962
Bedfordshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |15 |17 |51 |140 |732 |963
Cambridgeshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |15 |24 |52 |177 |810 |1,086
Cheshire |1 |1 |2 |8 |22 |31 |105 |282 |1,381 |1,833
Cleveland |1 |1 |2 |7 |20 |28 |89 |229 |1,077 |1,454
Cumbria |1 |1 |1 |7 |17 |24 |69 |172 |812 |1,104
Derbyshire |1 |1 |2 |8 |28 |34 |101 |254 |1,403 |1,832
Devon and Cornwall |1 |1 |3 |15 |32 |56 |134 |444 |2,035 |2,721
Dorset |1 |- |1 |5 |14 |22 |61 |179 |884 |1,167
Durham |1 |1 |2 |8 |19 |29 |69 |208 |1,008 |1,345
Dyfed Powys |1 |1 |1 |7 |10 |25 |36 |155 |693 |929
Essex |1 |1 |3 |11 |28 |60 |113 |416 |1,976 |2,609
Gloucestershire |1 |1 |1 |6 |14 |20 |57 |170 |849 |1,119
Greater Manchester |1 |1 |6 |29 |93 |150 |421 |1,083 |5,139 |6,923
Gwent |1 |1 |1 |6 |10 |22 |14 |147 |741 |973
Hampshire |1 |1 |3 |14 |30 |65 |127 |433 |2,384 |3,058
Hertfordshire |1 |1 |2 |9 |22 |31 |82 |246 |1,124 |1,518
Humberside |1 |1 |2 |10 |27 |38 |103 |315 |1,454 |1,951
Kent |1 |1 |4 |11 |33 |54 |167 |418 |2,182 |2,871
Lancashire |1 |1 |4 |16 |44 |70 |159 |513 |2,312 |3,120
Leicestershire |1 |1 |2 |7 |25 |36 |91 |282 |1,275 |1,720
Lincolnshire |1 |1 |2 |7 |15 |29 |63 |181 |884 |1,183
Merseyside |1 |1 |5 |20 |61 |72 |234 |709 |3,488 |4,591
Norfolk |1 |1 |1 |7 |15 |25 |65 |191 |943 |1,249
Northamptonshire |1 |1 |1 |7 |12 |25 |54 |149 |722 |971
Northumbria |1 |1 |3 |13 |50 |60 |190 |504 |2,518 |3,340
North Wales |1 |1 |1 |7 |18 |29 |62 |205 |966 |1,290
North Yorkshire |1 |1 |2 |7 |18 |30 |80 |201 |1,012 |1,352
Nottinghamshire |1 |1 |2 |9 |35 |42 |132 |319 |1,668 |2,209
South Wales |1 |1 |2 |13 |42 |62 |179 |521 |2,247 |3,068
South Yorkshire |1 |1 |3 |11 |38 |44 |150 |428 |2,166 |2,842
Staffordshire |1 |1 |2 |10 |26 |46 |102 |329 |1,554 |2,071
Suffolk |1 |1 |1 |5 |11 |28 |55 |165 |855 |1,122
Surrey |1 |- |2 |7 |22 |29 |78 |245 |1,205 |1,589
Sussex |1 |1 |3 |13 |39 |44 |155 |460 |2,107 |2,823
Thames Valley |1 |1 |3 |12 |41 |63 |139 |460 |2,323 |3,043
Warwickshire |1 |1 |1 |6 |12 |19 |56 |140 |680 |916
West Mercia |1 |1 |2 |10 |30 |38 |119 |268 |1,470 |1,939
West Midlands |1 |1 |6 |20 |80 |111 |355 |1,019 |4,946 |6,539
West Yorkshire |1 |1 |6 |26 |71 |88 |287 |808 |3,752 |5,040
Wiltshire |1 |1 |1 |6 |11 |23 |48 |148 |793 |1,032
City of London |<1>1 |<2>1 |<3>1 |7 |12 |18 |61 |141 |601 |843
Metropolitan |<1>6 |<2>16 |<3>54 |193 |219 |431 |1,236 |3,789 |17,618 |23,562
|---- |---- |---- |------- |------- |---- |---- |---- |---- |----
Totals |47 |56 |151 |623 |1,434 |2,262 |6,179 |18,108 |87,012 |115,872
<1>Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in Metropolitan police, and commissioner in City of London police.
<2>Includes deputy assistant commissioner in Metropolitan police, and assistant commissioner in City of London police.
<3>Includes commanders in Metropolitan police and City of London police.
Column 181
Table 4
Police service strength by rank in England and Wales as at 31 December 1985
Police force |Chief Constable |Deputy Chief |Assistant Chief |Chief Superintendent|Superintendent |Chief Inspector |Inspector |Sergeant |Constable |Totals
|Constable |Constable
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avon and Somerset |1 |1 |3 |13 |38 |69 |152 |464 |2,224 |2,965
Bedfordshire |1 |- |1 |5 |15 |19 |52 |139 |750 |982
Cambridgeshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |14 |25 |57 |182 |855 |1,141
Cheshire |1 |1 |2 |8 |22 |28 |103 |279 |1,359 |1,803
Cleveland |1 |1 |2 |6 |19 |27 |93 |235 |1,077 |1,461
Cumbria |1 |1 |1 |7 |17 |25 |71 |173 |824 |1,120
Derbyshire |1 |- |1 |8 |26 |37 |102 |258 |1,332 |1,765
Devon and Cornwall |1 |1 |3 |13 |36 |49 |133 |431 |2,080 |2,747
Dorset |1 |1 |1 |6 |17 |22 |66 |177 |911 |1,202
Durham |1 |1 |2 |8 |19 |27 |76 |212 |947 |1,293
Dyfed Powys |1 |1 |1 |7 |12 |24 |34 |153 |691 |924
Essex |1 |1 |3 |11 |28 |60 |121 |427 |2,026 |2,678
Gloucestershire |1 |1 |1 |6 |15 |18 |58 |174 |877 |1,151
Greater Manchester |1 |1 |6 |28 |93 |135 |405 |1,064 |5,046 |6,779
Gwent |1 |1 |1 |4 |14 |15 |49 |143 |743 |971
Hampshire |1 |1 |3 |12 |31 |56 |126 |437 |2,401 |3,068
Hertfordshire |1 |1 |2 |9 |25 |32 |93 |254 |1,167 |1,584
Humberside |1 |1 |1 |8 |24 |38 |107 |319 |1,437 |1,936
Kent |1 |1 |3 |12 |33 |48 |176 |427 |2,158 |2,859
Lancashire |1 |1 |4 |10 |42 |66 |156 |513 |2,211 |3,004
Leicestershire |1 |1 |2 |7 |24 |36 |98 |282 |1,299 |1,750
Lincolnshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |12 |22 |66 |179 |854 |1,141
Merseyside |1 |1 |3 |19 |61 |77 |248 |739 |3,405 |4,554
Norfolk |1 |1 |1 |7 |16 |21 |68 |195 |953 |1,263
Northamptonshire |1 |- |1 |6 |13 |22 |61 |152 |761 |1,017
Northumbria |1 |1 |3 |14 |49 |62 |193 |505 |2,540 |3,368
North Wales |1 |1 |1 |7 |21 |27 |65 |210 |918 |1,251
North Yorkshire |1 |1 |2 |7 |17 |29 |77 |205 |1,014 |1,353
Nottinghamshire |1 |- |2 |8 |33 |31 |125 |320 |1,694 |2,214
South Wales |1 |1 |2 |13 |43 |63 |182 |526 |2,233 |3,064
South Yorkshire |1 |1 |3 |11 |37 |44 |160 |446 |2,147 |2,850
Staffordshire |1 |1 |2 |11 |30 |48 |116 |329 |1,564 |2,102
Suffolk |1 |1 |1 |6 |18 |20 |56 |174 |854 |1,131
Surrey |1 |1 |2 |7 |23 |26 |92 |244 |1,231 |1,627
Sussex |1 |1 |2 |12 |37 |42 |160 |420 |2,115 |2,790
Thames Valley |1 |1 |2 |13 |41 |57 |166 |464 |2,538 |3,283
Warwickshire |1 |1 |1 |5 |15 |17 |62 |139 |698 |939
West Mercia |1 |1 |2 |10 |30 |39 |128 |298 |1,415 |1,924
West Midlands |1 |1 |6 |21 |78 |120 |364 |1,043 |4,921 |6,555
West Yorkshire |1 |1 |4 |22 |69 |87 |284 |810 |3,771 |5,049
Wiltshire |1 |1 |1 |6 |15 |20 |54 |157 |773 |1,028
City of London |<1>1 |<2>1 |<3>1 |6 |11 |19 |56 |129 |558 |782
Metropolitan |<1>6 |<2>17 |<3>40 |185 |249 |491 |1,398 |4,387 |19,886 |26,659
Totals |48 |55 |127 |594 |1,482 |2,240 |6,509 |18,814 |89,258 |119,127
<1> Includes ranks of assistant commissioner and above in Metropolitan police, and commissioner in City of London police.
<2> Includes deputy assistant commissioner in Metropolitan police, and assistant commissioner in City of London police.
<3> Includes commanders in Metropolitan police and City of London police.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Rowe : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many regular publications he was responsible in 1993-94 ; what was their circulation ; and how many were obtainable by subscription.
Mr. Howard : There are around 60 such publications, details of which are included in the Home Office annual report 1994, Cm 2508, pages 95-101, available in the Library of the House. No central record is maintained of the circulation of these publications, but all regular publications may be obtained on standing order from the Home Office or from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
Crime Statistics, Wales
Mr. Alex Carlile : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported instances of crime there were in Wales in 1993 ; what percentage this represents of the same statistic for each of the five preceding years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : Information on notifiable offences recorded by the police in Wales is given in the table.
L
Notifiable offences recorded by the police in Wales
Year |Number of offences|Percentage change
|over previous year
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988 |196,457 |+1
1989 |195,885 |-
1990 |229,248 |+17
1991 |271,038 |+18
1992 |287,258 |+6
1993 |279,018 |-3
Prisons Ombudsman
Mrs. Roche : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recruitment procedures were followed leading to the appointment of Sir Peter Woodward as the prisons ombudsman ; (2) what will be the remit and powers of the prisons ombudsman ; and if he will publish his job description ;
(3) how many staff will be appointed to the office of the prisons ombudsman ;
(4) what training his Department will provide for the prisons ombudsman and his staff.
Column 184
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The recruitment of the prisons ombudsman was conducted by the Civil Service Commission, using public advertisement and an executive search agency.
Sir Peter Woodhead will consider grievances from prisoners who have failed to obtain satisfaction from the Prison Service's internal complaints system, and he will, where necessary, make recommendations to the Director General of the Prison Service or to the Home Secretary. His full job description was published when the post was advertised and a copy is available in the Library.
The prisons ombudsman will be supported by 12 staff, including three assistant ombudsmen. An induction programme will be arranged to include visits to prisons and consultations with Prison Service staff.
Prison Statistics
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department plans to publish information on the reconviction of people released from custody, as stated in "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1991" Cm 2157.
Mr. Maclean : The main reconviction results for prisoners discharged in 1987 were given in my reply to the hon. Member on 18 October 1993 at column 133 . A full analysis of the results will be published shortly.
Prison (Indiscipline)
Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many concerted acts of indiscipline have taken place at each prison in England and Wales in each of the 12 months to March.
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 from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 27 April 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many concerted acts of indiscipline have taken at each prison in England and Wales in each of the 12 months to March 1994.
The information is given in the attached table.
Column 183
Concerted Acts of Indiscipline
1993 1994
|April |May |June |July |August |September|October |November |December |January |February |March |Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acklington |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |2
Belmarsh |2 |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |3 |7
Birmingham |- |2 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |2
Blakenhurst |- |- |- |- |1 |2 |2 |- |1 |- |2 |- |8
Bristol |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2
Bullingdon |6 |- |- |- |- |- |2 |- |1 |- |- |2 |11
Canterbury |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Channings WD |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Chelmsford |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |2
Dartmoor |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1
Dorchester |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Elmley |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |2
Erlestoke |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |3
Everthorpe |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |3
Exeter |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Featherstone |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1
Frankland |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Full Sutton |- |- |1 |1 |1 |- |2 |- |- |1 |- |1 |7
Garth |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Glen Parva |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |2
Gloucester |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |- |- |2
Haslar |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Haverigg |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |2
Highdown |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |2
Highpoint |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1 |- |2
Holloway |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1
Holme House |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1
Hull |- |- |- |- |2 |- |- |1 |2 |- |- |- |5
Lancaster Farms |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |2
Lindholme |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |3
Long Lartin |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1 |- |3
Low Newton |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Manchester |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
The Mount |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Northallerton |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Nottingham |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1
Parkhurst |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |2
Portland |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1
Preston |3 |2 |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |6
Pucklechurch |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2
Risley |- |- |2 |- |- |- |- |2 |- |- |- |- |4
Rochester |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |3
Shepton Mallet |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Shrewsbury |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Stoke Heath |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |1
Standford Hill |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Styal |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Swaleside |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |2
The Verne |- |- |1 |- |- |4 |- |- |2 |- |1 |2 |10
Wayland |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2 |- |- |- |- |3
Wetherby |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |1
Whitemoor |1 |1 |1 |2 |- |1 |- |- |2 |1 |2 |- |11
Winchester |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |1
The Wolds |- |1 |1 |- |- |- |1 |- |1 |- |- |- |4
Woodhill |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1
Wormwood Scrubs |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |1 |- |- |1
Wymott |- |1 |- |- |- |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |2
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
Total |18 |10 |18 |7 |8 |18 |15 |9 |14 |10 |10 |10 |147
Young Homeless
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to offer revised guidance concerning checks on those who provide emergency accommodation for the homeless in respect of the effect of the Children Act 1989 on the accommodation of those aged 16 and 17 years ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Charles Wardle : None. There is no statutory requirement for police checks to be carried out on those caring for children and the Children Act 1989 made no change to the statutory position.
Column 186
Immigration (Yugoslavia and Somalia)
Mr. Dicks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many individuals from Somalia have been granted visas to enter Britain as students since January 1991 ; and in how many instances a time limit has been set on their right to remain in Britain ;
(2) how many individuals from Somalia have been granted visas to enter Britain as visitors since January 1991 ; and in how many instances a time limit has been set on their right to remain in Britain ;
(3) how many individuals from the former Yugoslavia have been granted visas to enter Britain as visitors since January 1991 ; and in how many instances a time limit has been set on their right to remain in Britain ;
(4) how many individuals from the former Yugoslavia have been granted visas to enter Britain as students since January 1991 ; and in how many instances a time limit has been set on their right to remain in Britain.
Column 187
Mr. Charles Wardle : The available information relates to nationals of Somalia and the former Yugoslavia given leave to enter the United Kingdom as visitors and students, and is given in the table. Visitors are admitted for a period not exceeding six months. Students can be admitted for a longer specific period depending on their course of study.
Nationals of Somalia and the former Yugoslavia given leave to enter the
United Kingdom as visitors and students
Number of journeys
Nationality/category |1991 |1992 |<1>1993
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somalia:
visitors |1,340 |1,080 |1,370
students |20 |40 |30
Former Yugoslavia:
visitors |40,900 |32,000 |26,400
students |4,920 |2,080 |3,430
<1> Figures are provisional.
Probation Officers
Mr. Dunn : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the recruitment and qualifying training of probation officers.
Mr. Maclean : A review of the recruitment and qualifying training of probation officers will begin on 3 May. It will be carried out by Miss Vivienne Dews.
The terms of reference are as follows :
Having regard to the probation service statement of purpose, responsibilities and operational goals ; the Government's public spending plans and the likely future recruitment needs of the probation service ; the competences appropriate for different grades of probation service staff ; the need to secure maximum value for money from Home Office expenditure on or in connection with the probation service ; the need to secure equality of opportunity for entry to the service ; and relevant developments in higher education and vocational training generally ;
(a) to review the present qualification requirements governing appointment as a probation officer, and to consider how they might be changed and entry routes into the service enlarged in order to attract those with relevant experiences while maintaining a skilled and balanced workforce ; and
(b) in the light of (a) to review the present scheme for Home Office sponsorship of students undertaking qualifying training and to consider the extent to which and alternative methods by which funding should support probation service qualifying training.
Independent Monitor (Immigration)
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a report will be made available of the work done by the independent monitor appointed by him under section 3AA of the Immigration Act 1971, as amended by section 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I have been asked to reply.
This is a matter for Lady Anson, who must make her report by 30 November of this year.
EMPLOYMENT
Jobcentres
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state the annual rent of the jobcentre at Barnsley and the jobcentre at Wakefield occupied on 5 October 1992 and 19 July 1993.
Column 188
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 27 April 1994 :
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the annual rents of the Jobcentres at Barnsley and Wakefield. The annual rent of the Barnsley Jobcentre at 15 October 1992 was £237,133.
The annual rent of the Wakefield Jobcentre at 19 July 1993 was £175,770.
I hope this is helpful.
HIV
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions he or his ministerial colleagues have had with officials representing any retail establishments, regarding the legal and ethical considerations of screening for the HIV virus ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth : Employment Ministers have had no such discussions. The Department's policy is set out in our booklet "AIDS and the Work Place--A guide for employers", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. There is no risk to fellow workers or the public from normal work contact--for example, in retail
establishments--with an HIV-infected person.
Advisers
Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) claimant advisers and (b) new client advisers were in post for each year since these posts were established.
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 26 April 1994] : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from M. Fogden to Mr. Frank Field, dated 27 April 1994 : The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on the number of Claimant Advisers and New Client Advisers employed by Employment Services (ES) since the introduction of these posts. Our records only go back to the launch of the ES as an Agency in 1990 and the available information is shown below :
|New client advisers|Claimant advisers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990-91 |2,121 |2,803
1991-92 |2,529 |3,372
1992-93 |3,594 |3,122
1993-94 |3,288 |3,139
The fluctuations, year on year, are due to two main factors. First, the number of clients who attend our offices affects the number of advisers needed to help them ; secondly, changes to the nature of advisory work itself--for instance, the introduction of the new Unified Advisory Service in 92/93--result in variations in the number of staff required.
I hope this is helpful.
Column 189
SOCIAL SECURITY
Child Support Agency
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many letters sent by Mr. Simon Godfrey of Warwick in recent months have been lost by the Hastings office of the Child Support Agency ; and how many of them were sent by recorded delivery and had been signed for by CSA staff ;
(2) how many complaints about lost correspondence have been received by the Child Support Agency since it began operations ; and how many of those letters had been sent by recorded delivery.
Mr. Burt : The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Sir Dudley Smith, dated 27 April 1994 :
I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about lost correspondence, particularly in relation to Mr. Simon Godfrey of Warwick. Mr. Godfrey wrote to the Child Support Agency Centre at Hastings requesting a review of his maintenance assessment. He was mistakenly informed that this, and a number of subsequent letters, had not been received. The appeals and review manager at the Hastings Centre has written to Mr. Godfrey apologising for the mistake and answering the concerns raised in his letters.
I hope you will convey to Mr. Godfrey my sincere apologies for the errors made in his case.
You also asked about the number of complaints the Agency has received about lost correspondence. I am sorry that the Agency does not collect information in the form requested.
Ms. Gordon : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many non-resident parents so far assessed for maintenance by the Child Support Agency are on income support.
Mr. Burt : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive of the Child Support Agency, to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 22 April at column 71.
Sir Dudley Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) to what extent the income of the partner and stepchildren of the father of children of a previous relationship is taken into account by the Child Support Agency when a maintenance assessment is made ;
(2) why the income of the partner and stepchildren of a woman applicant is not taken into account by the Child Benefit Agency when a maintenance assessment is made in respect of her former husband or partner.
Mr. Burt : Child maintenance assessments are made by the Child Support Agency, using a formula which applies irrespective of whether the father or the mother is the absent parent.
The agency needs details of the income of an absent parent's new partner for two reasons : first, to assess whether the partner can afford to contribute towards the upkeep of his or her own children of the new relationship, or whether the costs of those children should be allowed in full in the absent parent's exempt income ; secondly, to determine whether the amount of maintenance the absent
Column 190
parent has been assessed to pay should in fact be reduced, under the protected income provisions. Protected income is calculated for the whole family, so a stepchild's income is taken into account up to the amount included in that calculation for his or her personal needs.Where the parent with care can afford to contribute to the upkeep of a child of the previous relationship, the absent parent's maintenance payments may be reduced. Since parents with care do not make payments, no protected income calculation is necessary in respect of their new family. But a partner's income is taken into account where he or she can contribute to the upkeep of children of the new relationship.
Benefits Agency Applications
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases there were of applicants to the Benefits Agency seeking help with funeral bills in Scotland in 1993 ; and of these how many were refused on the grounds that the applicant already had repayments to make for a social fund loan or loans.
Mr. Scott : The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Michael Bichard to Mrs. Maria Fyfe, dated 26 April 1994 :
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about requests for help with funeral bills in Scotland in 1993.
I should explain that help with funeral bills can be provided from the Social Fund (SF) in the form of a Funeral Payment (FP). Applications for SF FPs are recorded when a decision (an award or refusal) is made. The number of decisions made in Scotland for the financial year 1993-94 was 11,395.
With regard to the number of FP claims refused on the grounds that the customer was already repaying a SF loan, I should point out that the SF scheme is made up of two distinct and separate parts. The regulated part of the Fund is made up of Funeral Payments, Maternity Payments and Cold Weather Payments. The discretionary part of the Fund comprises Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans. The qualifying conditions for the regulated SF are quite specific. Repayment of a loan from the discretionary part of the SF does not affect an application for a regulated payment. SF FPs are only recovered if there are sufficient funds in the deceased's estate. They are not recoverable from the person to whom they are awarded. Therefore, no FP claims were refused because the applicant was repaying a SF loan.
I hope you find this reply helpful.
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