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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 Mrs. Elizabeth Peacock, dated 20 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prisoners are at present serving a life sentence in the United Kingdom; and what is the total annual cost to the exchequer.
The latest available information is for 31 October 1994. On that date there were 3,200 life sentence prisoners (3,095 males and 105 females) in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland is available from the Scottish and Northern Ireland offices respectively. The average net operating cost per prisoner per week is published in the "Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts, April 1992- -March 1993" (Table D, Volume 2, Cm 2385) and was £494 at 1992 93 prices.
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are serving a life prison sentence in each of the 12 European Union states.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: I regret that the information requested, is not available for states in membership of the Council of Europe other than the United Kingdom.
Doncaster Prison
Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies bid to manage the Doncaster prison when Premier Prison Services succeeded in winning the contract.
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. John Gunnell, dated 20 December 1994 :
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about Doncaster prison.
Five bids to manage Doncaster prison were received in response to the invitation to tender.
Mr. Gunnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance criteria are specified in the contract for managing Doncaster prison.
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. John Gunnell, dated 20 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the performance criteria specified in the contract for managing Doncaster prison.
The contract, a copy of which is held in the House of Commons Library, specifies a wide range of performance criteria, covering all aspects of the prison's activities. As with both publicly and privately managed prisons, the performance at Doncaster is measured against key performance indicators, which are specified as follows: Escapes from the prison: no more than two by the end of the first year of operation thereafter no more than one in each year of operation.
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Escapes from court: no more than eight each year for the first three years. No more than six in the fourth year and then subject to review.Time out of cell: a minimum of twelve hours a day for prisoners on normal location.
A positive regime: a minimum of at least twelve hours a day of regime activities including education for prisoners on normal location. Adult prisoners to have access to a minimum of six hours a week, and young prisoners under 17 provision of fifteen hours a week, of education and training.
Visits: The statutory minimum as set out in Prison Rules. Grievances: Ninety per cent. of grievances, capable of resolution at prison level, resolved within seven days.
Assaults on prisoners: no more than 148 by the end of the first year of operation, to be reviewed at the end of the first year. Assaults on staff: no more than 77 by the end of the first year of operation, to be reviewed at the end of the first year.
Prison Escapes
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those prisoners serving sentences who have spent time unlawfully at large during the past five years were at large for (a) 24 hours, (b) seven days, (c) 30 days and (d) more than 30 days.
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. A. J. Beith, dated 20 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many of those prisoners serving sentences who have spent time unlawfully at large during the past five years were at large for (a) 24 hours (b) seven days (c) thirty days and (d) more than thirty days.
I am afraid that this information is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those prisoners serving sentences who have spent time unlawfully at large during the last five years (a) returned to custody voluntarily, (b) were reapprehended by the police and other agencies of the law and (c) are still at large.
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. A. J. Beith, dated 20 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many of those prisoners serving sentences who have spent time unlawfully at large during the last five years (a) returned to custody voluntarily (b) were reapprehended by the police and other agencies of the law and (c) are still at large.
I regret that this information is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Capsicum Pepper Sprays
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the draft report of the joint Home Office and metropolitan police review of deportation procedures contained reference to the use of capsicum pepper sprays.
Mr. Nicholas Baker: It is not the practice to comment on the contents of draft or incomplete reports. As I said in my reply on 6 December at column 150, the
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conclusions of the review were placed in the Library on 12 January 1994.Firefighters
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of firefighters serving (a) the city of Sheffield, (b) South Yorkshire, (c) Greater Manchester and (d) the west midlands; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Information on the number of firefighters in each fire authority is published annually in the reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales. The latest report, for 1993 94, column 2679 , contains on page 14 a table giving brigade establishments and strengths as at 1 January 1994. I understand from South Yorkshire fire and civil defence authority that on that date there were 471 regular firefighters and 62 retained firefighters based at fire stations in the city of Sheffield.
Prison Escorts
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving sentences have been guarded, escorted or otherwise supervised by private security firms, and how many by the Prison Service, since the first escort of prisoners by private security firms; and how many have escaped from the supervision of each.
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. A. J. Beith, dated 20 December 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the escapes of prisoners serving sentences from escorts by the Prison Service and from escorts by contractors.
I am afraid that the information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Cheshire Police Headquarters
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cause of the major power fault cut on 29 November affecting Cheshire police force headquarters; how long they were without power; what emergency systems they used; what action is being taken to prevent this happening again; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: I understand that the power failure at Cheshire constabulary headquarters was caused by an internal failure of both normal and backup electricity supplies. Power was restored to the building after two hours. The 999 emergency system remained operative throughout. Measures have already been taken to prevent such a thing happening again.
Detention Pending Trial
Sir Andrew Bowden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take in response to recommendation 1245 of 1994 of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe relating to detention pending trial; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Maclean: The decision to detain a person pending trial is taken primarily to protect the public and ensure the pursuance of justice.
The majority of the guidelines contained in this recommendation reflect existing law and procedure in the United Kingdom.
Police Authorities
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the guidelines governing the claiming and levels of attendance allowances for members of police authorities.
Mr. Maclean: This information is contained in a Home Office circular letter dated 5 August 1994. A copy is available in the Library.
Police Strength
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of police officers serving (a) the city of Sheffield, (b) south Yorkshire, (c) Greater Manchester and (d) west midlands; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: The information is set out in the table:
Police strength at September 1994 -------------------------------- City of Sheffield |995 South Yorkshire |3,029 Greater Manchester |6,949 West Midlands |6,981
Firearms
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response he has made to the Association of Chief Police Officers report on firearms licensing; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: The Association of Chief Police Officers produced a report on firearms administration in 1990. This was considered by a working group set up in 1991, consisting of Home Office officials, Her majesty's inspectorate of constabulary and representatives of several police forces, which was set up to promote efficiency and consistency amongst forces; to identify models of best practice for forces in administering the firearms licensing system; and to identify a reliable basis on which to set fees. The report of that group was circulated to police forces, strongly recommending that, where they had not already done so, they adopt the procedures which is set out.
Market Testing
Mr. Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of his Department's posts lost or contracted out as a result of market testing since 1991.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: A total of 705 Home Office posts have been contracted out as a result of the "Competing for Quality" programme, which includes strategic contracting out as well as market testing with in-house bids. There has also been a reduction of 209 posts as a result of efficiency improvements made by in-house bid teams during the market- testing process.
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Mr. Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many external contractors have been awarded functions of his department following a market test; and what were the contract prices.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) at column 487 .
Mr. Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which outside consultants were used during the course of any market test conducted or completed since 1991;
(2) what was the total amount paid to each consultant used on his Department's market testing in each year since 1991.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Up to 30 September 1994 the Home Office market- testing division and the Prison Service contracts and competition group engaged the following consultants to advise on market tests where there was an in-house bid:
Brian Farrington Ltd.
P. Chapman
Clayton Forde Associates
D. Croin
ER Consultants
Ernst and Young
Handley-Walker plc
Ken Worthing Associates
KPMG Peat Marwick
Lamb Associates
G. Lister
L. Massey
PA Consulting Group
Theodore Goddard
Touche Ross Management Consultants
Information on the costs of contracts with individual consultants is commercially confidential.
Mr. Straw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the outcome of each market- testing exercise in his Department which has been completed since 1991;
(2) which of his Department's functions have been market tested since 1991.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The outcome for each market test with an in- house bid since 1991 is as follows:
Market testing
exercise
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Prisons Programme
Statistics Data Collection |In-house bid win
Central Training Services |In-house bid win
Central Typing Services |In-house bid win
Reprographic and Design and Illustration Services |Contract to be awarded to HMSO
Departmental Computer Services |Contracted out
Immigration and Nationality Department Security Guards |In-house bid win
Internal Audit |In-house bid win
Record Storage and Retrieval |In-house bid win
Immigration and Nationality Department Typing Services |In-house bid win
Immigration and Nationality Department Messengerial
and Reprographic Services |Tenders being evaluated
Immigration and Nationality Department File Storage
and Retrieval Services
Prisons Programme
HMP Manchester |In-house bid win
Warehousing Prisons |In-house bid win
Facilities Management |In-house bid win
Management of Buckley Hall Prison |Contracted-out
Private Security Patrols
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the guards employed by private security patrols in Southwark have criminal convictions.
Mr. Maclean: This information is not available.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what meetings he has had with the police in Southwark to discuss the issue of private security patrols;
(2) if he will make a statement on mobile private security patrols operating in Southwark.
Mr. Maclean: My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed private security patrols with the police in Southwark. We are not aware of an significant local problems with patrols operating in the area.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to license private security patrols.
Mr. Maclean: We have no such plans.
Drivers (Insurance Fines)
Mr. French: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those convicted of driving without insurance received fines of greater than (a) £1,000 and (b) £5,000 in 1993.
Mr. Maclean: Information available to me indicates that 6,538 convictions for driving without insurance in 1993 in England and Wales resulted in fines of over £1,000 being imposed, none of which was over £5,000.
Prisoner Transfers
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been transferred from Great Britain prisons to Northern Ireland prisons in the last six months, in the categories of republican, loyalist or non-terrorist offenders.
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Since July, 11 prisoners have been transferred from prisons in England and Wales to prisons in Northern Ireland on a temporary basis. Eight of these prisoners have been convicted of terrorist offences. Requests for such transfers are not considered or recorded on the basis of the prisoner's political beliefs.
Stop and Search
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances a police officer who stops a person and bodily searches that person is required to make an official report of the incident in his log book and also in the police station to which he is assigned; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean: These matters are regulated by section 3 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and by the code of practice for the exercise by police officers of statutory powers of stop and search--code A--made under section 66(a) of the Act.
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A written record must be made of all stops and searches by police officers. The record must be made on the form provided for this purpose as soon as practicable after the search. The search record is to be retained at a police station in the area where the search takes place. A copy of the record may be obtained by the person searched if he asks for it within one year of the date of the search.Mr. Bernie Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances the Metropolitan police maintain computer records relating to individual stop-and-search incidents; and what is the purpose of so doing in respect of those searches which do not give rise to an arrest.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 19 December 1994]: I understand from the Commissioner that computer records of all stop-and-search incidents are maintained at local divisional level throughout the Metropolitan police district. This is in compliance with section 3(7) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, which requires that the police record all occasions when a person is searched. Anyone who is stopped and searched by the police is entitled to request a copy of the record of the search for up to 12 months after the search took place; computer records are therefore maintained to allow for such requests. They are destroyed after 12 months.
Mr. Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 1 December. Official Report , column 843 , which five police authorities estimated the numbers of ethnic minorities stopped and searched in the fiscal year 1993 94; what is the basis of their estimates; for what reasons these authorities could not collect actual figures; and what action he will take to ensure that all police forces comply with the request to supply accurate figures for the numbers of ethnic minorities stopped and searched in the forthcoming year.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 19 December 1994]: Statistics of the number of stops and searches conducted in 1993 94 were collected from forces by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary. Estimated figures were provided in respect of five forces: Essex, Humberside, Lancashire, Sussex and West Midlands.
In Essex, the form containing the ethnic split was not introduced until 1 October 1993, and in Humberside not until 1 September 1993. HMIC received returns only for the portions of the fiscal year after those dates, and multiplied the figures appropriately.
In the case of Lancashire, the relevant form was not introduced until 1 January 1994. The force estimated the ethnic breakdown of the total years' result based on the split disclosed during the months for which these figures were available. In Sussex, the form was not introduced until 1 July 1993; the force estimated the annual total by grossing up from the available figures.
West Midlands was unable to provide actual data because the force did not receive forms from every subdivision for every month. It furnished HMIC with an estimate on the basis of approximately 94 per cent. of potential returns.
These were difficulties associated with the introduction of this new monitoring procedure and it is not expected that there will be such difficulties in subsequent years.
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