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Mr. Nicholas Baker: I am not aware of any such contacts other than with officers of the Immigration Service on arrivals and departures from the United Kingdom.
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Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Kani Yilmaz entered the United Kingdom; and what action was then taken by immigration officers.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Mr. Kani Yilmaz last entered the United Kingdom on 23 October 1994. An immigration officer gave him leave to enter for three months.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Mr. Kani Yilmaz has ever entered the United Kingdom unlawfully, or been in breach of immigration rules by overstaying or for any other reason; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: According to our records Mr. Yilmaz has never previously entered or remained in the United Kingdom in breach of the immigration rules.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he first became aware of the arrival of Mr. Kani Yilmaz in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I first became aware of Mr. Kani Yilmaz's arrival in the United Kingdom on 24 October.
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he decided to issue a notice of intention to deport Mr. Kani Yilmaz; and when it was served.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: My right hon. and learned Friend directed on 25 October 1994 that Mr. Faysal Dunlayici, also known as Kani Yilmaz, should be served with a notice of intention to deport and detained. The notice was served on Mr. Dunlayici on 26 October.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently detained under Immigration Acts powers in Her Majesty's prison Doncaster; and how long on average these detainees are being held under these powers.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers released from detention on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority have subsequently absconded or otherwise failed to comply with the terms of such bail (a) in the last five years and (b) since 26 July 1993; (2) how many asylum seekers detained under Immigration Act powers have been released on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority (a) in the past five years and (b) since 26 July 1993.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Information on the number of asylum seekers released from detention on bail by the Immigration Appellate Authority could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. Information on those released on bail that subsequently abscond is not separately identifiable in the statistics.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many asylum seekers have been detained under the provisions of section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 since 26 July 1993;
(2) how many asylum seekers are currently detained under the provisions of section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Section 7 of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act 1993 refers to the curtailment
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of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom after an asylum applicant has had their claim for asylum refused. It has no provision for the detention of asylum seekers. However, there have been no cases detained since 26 July 1993 who were awaiting removal or an appeal because their leave to remain had been curtailed.Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department approximately what proportion of those applying for asylum in the United Kingdom in 1993 arrived (a) without travel documents and (b) in possession of fraudulent travel documents.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The available information relates to asylum applications lodged at the United Kingdom ports of Heathrow, Gatwick and Dover. In 1993, of the 6,725 applications for asylum, excluding dependants, lodged at these ports, an estimated 40 per cent. were without travel documents and 20 per cent. were in possession of fraudulent travel documents.
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Deaths in Custody
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of deaths in custody for young offenders and the coroners' verdicts returned for the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November, 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question if he will list the total number of deaths in custody for young offenders and the coroners' verdicts returned for the last five years for which figures are available.
The attached table records the information requested for the year 1990 to November 1st 1994.
Young offender deaths 1990-1994
|Suicide |Misadventure|Accidental |Open |Other |Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990 |5 (2) |- |- |5 |- |10
1991 |4 |- |1 |- |- |5
1992 |4 |1 |- |2 |<1>1 |8
1993 |1 |- |- |2 |- |3
1994<2> |1 |1 |- |1 |- |10
The figure in brackets refers to verdicts where a `lack of care' rider has been used as a
qualification. It does not relate to the concept of civil negligence nor does it indicate a breach of
duty by anyone.
<1> Cell mate charged with murder.
<2> 1994 figures are up to November 1. Verdicts are awaited in 7 cases for 1994.
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Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of deaths in custody in the last five years which have resulted in disciplinary proceedings being brought against custodial officers.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the number of deaths in custody in the last five years which have resulted in disciplinary proceedings.
I will write to you as soon as possible.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the rules in relation to the publication of reports into the circumstances surrounding a death in custody; and what plans he has to change them.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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 Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 3 November 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the rules in relation to the publication of reports into the circumstances surrounding a death in custody; and the plans he has to change them.
Subject to considerations of security and to the Coroner's consent, the Prison Service is generally prepared to disclose, in advance of any inquest, copies of documents which are provided to the Coroner
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for the purpose of the inquest to anyone who is a "properly interested person" under the Coroners' Rules.However reports of follow-up internal investigations, including statements taken by the investigating Governor, are not disclosed. It is necessary that the Prison Service should be able to conduct its own review of the case in confidence. The Coroner is at liberty to take statements separately for the purpose of the inquest and any requests for disclosure of such statements would be for him or her to consider. There are no plans to change this policy.
A similar policy applies in relation to deaths of persons in the custody of the Prison Service detained under the Immigration Act.
Security Service
Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps are being taken to recruit more women from outside the service into senior positions within the Security Service;
(2) what positive steps are being taken to promote women within the ranks of the Security Service;
Mr. Howard: The Security Service operates an equal opportunities policy. Recruitment and promotion are based on merit not gender.
Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the grades of post in order of seniority within the structure of the Security Service;
(2) how many personnel are currently employed by the Security Service; and how many are women;
(3) how many women are employed in each grade of post within the Security Service as a percentage of the total number of staff in that grade.
Mr. Howard: The Security Service employs about 2,000 people of whom just over 53 per cent. are women. The senior management group which is responsible for
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the overall direction of the service's work, and the general intelligence duties group, who are responsible for the service's investigative, assessment and policy work as well as operational tasks, together comprise 367 staff of whom 144--39 per cent.-- are women. For operational reason I am not prepared to give a breakdown of the remaining occupational groups.Secure Training Centres
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the organisations who have expressed an interest in running one or more secure training centres.
Mr. Maclean: A total of 25 organisations have expressed an interest in tendering for the financing, designing,
building/refurbishing, operating and maintaining of five secure training centres. The names of the organisations invited to tender will be announced when the invitations to tender are issued.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines will be put in place on the prevention of suicides and self-harm at the new secure training centres.
Mr. Maclean: Each secure training centre will be required to develop and maintain a suicide and self-harm management and assessment policy which will ensure that each trainee is assessed for the risk of suicide and/or self-harm on arrival at the centre and is re-assessed on a regular basis. The requirement to design the regime and the buildings to minimise these risks will be a prominent feature of the invitation to tender, and will be given close attention in assessing bids.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the projected average level of occupancy for the secure training centres.
Mr. Maclean: Each secure training centre will provide 40 places. The actual level of occupancy will be determined by the courts and their use of the secure training order.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the names of the private sector contractors who will be running the secure training centres.
Mr. Maclean: An announcement will be made once the competitive tendering exercise has been completed.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the national curriculum will be taught in the new secure training centres.
Mr. Maclean: Secure training centres will provide a broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to the age, aptitude and ability and special educational needs of the individual trainee. It will reflect the national curriculum as far as possible.
Remand (Juveniles)
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 May, Official Report 1992 , columns 737 38, if he is now in a position to state when he intends to end the practice of remanding juveniles to adult prisons.
Mr. Maclean: It is the Government's policy to end remands of juveniles to prisons as soon as possible. To this end, local authorities have begun building
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programmes to increase the stock of secure accommodation specifically for this purpose.Citizenship Applications
Sir Michael Neubert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the use of an honorific title by Mr. Ali Fayed in regard to his application for British citizenship.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for British citizenship have been outstanding for more than 21 months.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: There were 752 applications outstanding on 31 October 1994.
Sir Michael Neubert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce a system of checks on the use of honorific titles by foreign nationals applying for British citizenship.
Immigration Detention Centres
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost in the financial year to 31 March to the Immigration Service of administering its immigration detention centres.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The costs met by the Immigration Service in the financial year 1993 94 were about £7.5 million.
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in Harmondsworth immigration detention centre for the financial year to 31 March;
(2) what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in Campsfield house immigration detention centre for the financial year to 31 March.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: This information is not available in the form requested, but over the whole estate the average weekly cost per detainee is estimated at just over £800.
Drug Abuse
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage charity shops selling clothing to young people to display warnings about drug abuse; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: We are in favour of any initiative which effectively raises young people's awareness of the facts about drug misuse and the associated risks. The Government's consultative document on a drug strategy for 1995 98, published last month, contains new proposals to help young people to resist drugs, including publicity campaigns and support for schools in providing effective drugs education.
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards slogans promoting the use of drugs appearing on clothing for young people; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The Government are totally opposed to the encouragement or glamorisation of drug misuse. Section 19 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 makes it an offence for a person to incite another to
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commit an offence under this Act. The investigation and prosecuting of offences is entirely a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service. The decision as to whether an offence has been committed is a matter for the courts.Re-convictions
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were re-convicted within two years of release from (a) local authority secure accommodation and (b) young offender institutions for each of the past five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Maclean: The information requested on re-conviction rates for local authority secure accommodation is not centrally available. The latest available information on re-conviction rates of young offenders is contained in chapter 9 of "Prison Statistics, England and Wales, 1992", Cm. 2581, and
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relates to offenders discharged from prison during 1987. Relevant figures are contained in tables 9.7 and 9.9. Figures are not given for young offender institutions as they did not replace detention centres and youth custody until 1988.Stolen Vehicles
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recovery rate has been achieved of stolen vehicles for each of the last five years for which figures are available;
(2) what records are kept detailing recovery rates of vehicles reported stolen.
Mr. Maclean: Information on the number of vehicles recorded as stolen and subsequently recovered is available for 42 of the 43 police force areas in England and Wales, and is provided to the Home Office by those forces. The recovery rate for the last five years is given in the following table.
Notifiable offences of theft and unauthorised taking of motor vehicles recorded by the police England and Wales |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Offences recorded |393,399 |494,209 |581,901 |587,856 |597,519 Vehicles recovered |267,094 |328,797 |372,412 |363,956<1> |350,862<1> Percentage recovered |68 |67 |64 |65<1> |59<1> <1> Excluding Dyfed-Powys.
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Travellers
Ms Gordon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent on tracking the movement and activities of travellers by specialist police units during 1991 92 and 1993 94; and what is the planned budget for 1995 96 to 1997 98.
Mr. Maclean: No Home Office records are maintained of specific operational costs incurred by police forces. The deployment of resources for police operations is a matter for individual chief officers of police.
Remand Prisoners
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners are currently held in police station cells.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: 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. Robert Ainsworth, dated 3 November 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the number of remand prisoners currently held in police cells.
On 31 October there were 132 remand prisoners held in police cells.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) juveniles and (b) young adults were held in (i) prison and (ii) young offenders' institutions or remand centres, (1) on remand and (2) after sentence for the last five years for which figures are available.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The Director General of the Prison Service will write to the hon. Member.
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Haslar Home Office Holding Centre
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average net operating cost per inmate per week in the Haslar Home Office holding centre for the financial year to 31 March.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter for Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 3 November 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent question about the average net operating cost per inmate per week in the Haslar Home Office holding centre for the financial year to 31 March.
In the financial year to 31 March 1994 the net operating cost per prisoner per week for Haslar holding centre was £300.
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