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Scottish Court Service
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusions he has reached about executive agency status for the Scottish Court Service and what targets he will set for the Scottish Court Service. [17950]
Mr. Lang: I have decided that the Scottish Court Service will become an executive agency under the next steps initiative from 3 April 1995. I am arranging for copies of the framework document to be placed in the Libraries of the House. I shall remain accountable to Parliament for the activities of the Scottish Court Service. I am delegating to the chief executive full managerial authority for the agency and its day-to-day operation. For the future, I envisage greater flexibilities to help the Scottish Court Service meet increasingly demanding targets and further improve its standards of service.
Following consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Sheriffs Principal, I have set the following key performance targets for the Scottish Court Service for 1995 96: 1. That no cases should fall as a result of the statutory time limits being breached.
2. Targets for Waiting Periods:
-- 80 per cent. of diets allocated in the Court of Session within waiting periods set by the Lord President;
-- 80 per cent. of criminal and justiciary appeals allocated to a roll within waiting periods set by the Lord Justice General; -- 75 per cent. of Sheriff Courts to report summary criminal waiting periods agreed with the Sheriffs Principal, currently 12 weeks;
-- 85 per cent. of Sheriff Courts to report waiting periods between request for ordinary civil proof or debate and diet agreed with the Sheriffs Principal, currently 12 weeks;
-- 80 per cent. of Sheriff Courts reporting lack of time adjournments at 5 per cent. or lower.
3. Targets for quality of service and provision:
-- To achieve 95 per cent. of the standards for administrative business in the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary set by the Lord President/Lord Justice General;
-- 95 per cent. of Sheriff Courts to achieve the overall standards for administrative business agreed with Sheriffs Principal; -- 70 per cent. of courthouses to meet the "Coming to Court" standards set out in the Justice Charter for Scotland.
4. Cost and efficiency:
-- staff, accommodation and administrative costs: to be kept within £1,060 per court sitting day;
-- 70 per cent. of the total costs of civil business in the Court of Session and in the Sheriff Courts to be recovered through fee income.
Full details of the performance measures, including the agreed waiting periods, administrative standards and "Coming to Court" standards are set out in the Scottish Court Service framework document.
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Cash Limits
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he intends to make to the cash limits and external financing limits for 1994 95 within his responsibility. [17949]
Mr. Lang: The cash limit for class XIV, vote 3, training programmes, roads and transport services and industrial support, Scotland, will be reduced by £200,000 from £902,139,000 to £901,939, 000. This decrease takes account of a reduced requirement for regional enterprise grant and will be used to make a contribution towards providing for an EFL for David MacBrayne Ltd. of £0.8 million which has arisen due to the transfer of surplus funds from DML to the Secretary of State. In addition, the provision for an EFL for DML will be offset by a reduction in the EFL for the Scottish Transport Group
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from zero to minus £0.6 million. These changes will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.HOME DEPARTMENT
Child Care
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the child care or nursery facilities within his Department; and what is the breakdown in their use (a) by grade and (b) by gender. [15236]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The Department makes available 167 nursery day care places for children under five and holiday playscheme places for children five to 12 years old, at a variety of locations. These arrangements generally involve a subsidy of about 50 per cent. of the running costs involved.
A breakdown of staff by grade and gender using these facilities is shown in the following table.
Nursery users
Grade |Male |Female|Male |Female
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative Assistant |2 |8 |- |15
Administrative Officer |8 |48 |2 |35
Industrial grade (Prison Service) |2 |- |- |-
Personal Secretary |- |7 |- |2
Executive Officer |9 |25 |2 |20
Higher Executive Officer |19 |22 |2 |2
Senior Executive Officer |6 |5 |1 |6
Grade 7 |6 |1 |4 |8
Grade 6 |2 |- |- |-
Grade 5 |2 |2 |- |-
Total |56 |118 |11 |88
<1> Refers to the number of staff who are currently using nursery
places. Includes 53 places used on a part-time basis and 33 places
jointly by spouses/partners who both work for the Department.
<2> Refers to the number of staff who have used the holiday play
schemes over the past financial year.
Publicity
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 20 March, Official Report , column 795 , what was the total expenditure on all forms of publicity by his Department and its agencies for (a) 1992 93 and (b) 1993 94; and what is his estimate for 1994 95. [17292]
Mr. Howard: Total expenditure on all forms of publicity by my Department and its agencies in 1992 93 was £13,130,371. The total in 1993 94 was £14,486,094.
The estimate for 1994 95 is £15,206,903.
South Thames Training and Enterprise Council
Mr. Austin-Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which the ethnic minority grant paid to South Thames TEC has been spent on the purposes for which it was provided; and if he will make a statement. [17246]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: My officials are in touch with the Receiver about ethnic minority grant payments made to South Thames training and enterprise council. My right hon. and noble Friend will write to the hon. Member about this matter as soon as possible.
Animal Experiments (Tobacco)
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many project licences have been granted for studies using animals to assess the safety or effects of
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environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoking since 1987; [16874] (2) how many animals were used in research involving tobacco and/or its products in each year from 1987 to 1993. [16873]Mr. Nicholas Baker: Seven project licences permitting the study of tobacco or its constituents in conscious animals have been granted since 1987.
In the period 1987 to 1993, 3,077 animals were used in the safety testing of tobacco or its products. Prior to 1 January 1995, figures for the number of animals used in fundamental or applied research involving tobacco or its products were not separately recorded.
Crimes (Wildlife)
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what central record is kept of criminal activity concerning wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [16936]
Mr. Maclean: None. The investigation of crime is a matter for individual chief officers of police.
Prisons (Ministerial Visits)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Prison Service establishments he has visited since his appointment as Home Secretary; for what duration each visit lasted; and if he will make a statement on the discussions he had with
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the prison authorities in each prison establishment. [16761]Mr. Howard: Since my appointment, I have visited the following Prison Service establishments:
Aldington
Aylesbury
Belmarsh
Blantyre House
Bristol
Brixton
Cardiff
Channings Wood
Dartmoor
Reading
Swinfen Hall
Wandsworth
Whitemoor
Wormwood Scrubs
Wymott
Each visit lasted for about two hours. During these visits I have spoken to a wide range of staff on a large number of subjects.
Victims Charter
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Department of Health concerning the introduction of a charter of rights for victims whose offenders are deemed to be mentally ill comparable to those set out in the victims charter; and if he will make a statement. [16865]
Mr. Maclean: The principles in the victims charter apply to all victims of crime. The Home Office and the Department of Health keep in close contact about matters affecting the interests of victims in cases where the offender is found to be mentally ill.
Young Offenders
Mr. Shersby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been initiated by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years utilising the powers contained in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 relating to the requirement of parents to pay fines, compensation orders or prosecution costs imposed on juveniles; and if he will make a statement. [16839]
Mr. Maclean: Information collected centrally by my Department identifies only the number of young offenders sentenced whose parents, or guardians, were ordered to pay fines and compensation. Table 7.27 of the Command Paper 2680, "Criminal statistics England and Wales 1993," refers to this. Copies are available in the Library.
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he proposes to achieve the rehabilitation of young offenders; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 9 March 1995]: My right hon. and learned Friend published on 9 March the 1995 national standards for the supervision of offenders in the community. The new standards include a number of provisions which should reinforce the effectiveness of supervision orders and probation orders in preventing further offending by young offenders.
He published on 15 March the consultation document, "Strengthening Punishment in the Community," which
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invites views on the creation of a new, integrated community sentence and on its application to younger offenders. Under these proposals, the courts would be enabled to specify activities under a community sentence which are directed at the prevention of reoffending.We expect to issue shortly the invitation to tender for the construction and management of the first two secure training centres. The secure training order will provide a new power for the courts to sentence persistent young offenders to custodial periods of between three months and 12 months, to be served in purpose-built establishments offering a high- quality regime of education and training, followed by a similar period of compulsory supervision. We shall bring this new and demanding sentence into force as soon as the new centres are available.
In addition, the Prison Service agency will be reviewing the use made by young offender institutions of sentence planning to meet the individual needs of each young offender and to ensure that work began in custody can be built on during the period under supervision in the community after release, so as to maximise prospects of rehabilitation.
We have also received a report from Prison Service officials on their visit to boot camps in the USA and have asked for proposals to be brought forward for an innovative, demanding regime for young offenders. If appropriate, the proposals will incorporate the more positive aspects of the American boot camps.
Prisoners (Visits)
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of prisoners held in establishments where prisoners have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlement laid down in the prison and young offenders institution rules and standing orders for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16269]
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. George Howarth, dated 30 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the proportion of prisoners held in establishments where prisoners have the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlements laid down in Prison and YOI Rules and Standing Orders. In February and March 1994, 99% of prisoners were held in establishments which allowed prisoners the opportunity to exceed minimum visiting entitlements. From April 1994 up to and including the end of February 1995, all establishments have been providing prisoners with the opportunity to exceed the minimum visiting entitlements laid down in the Prison and YOI Rules and Standing Orders.
Public Relations
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department has issued to its agencies and other public bodies under its authority in respect of the employment of public relations companies and the procedures to be adopted in relation to requesting tenders for public relations companies. [16220]
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Mr. Michael Forsyth: The executive agencies of my Department and other public bodies under its authority are subject to the guidance contained in "A Working Guide for Government Information Officers" issued by the Office of Public Service and Science. A copy is available in the Library. The guide covers proprietorial and value for money issues which relate to the use of public relations consultancies. Tendering procedures are set out in the Home Office procurement manual.
Prison Escapes
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of
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escapes from prison establishments and from escorts for each of the past 12 months in England and Wales. [16259]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. George Howarth, dated 30 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the total numbers of escapes from prison establishments and from escort for the past 12 months in England and Wales. The information is shown in the table below:
|Escapes from
|court escort
|service
|(previously
|Escapes from |Escort from |police
|prison |escorts<1> |Sub-total |responsibility)|Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994
March |5 |9 |14 |1 |15
April |15 |6 |21 |0 |21
May |10 |9 |19 |5 |24
June |9 |5 |14 |4 |18
July |21 |8 |29 |1 |30
August |21 |2 |23 |2 |25
September |24 |2 |26 |0 |26
October |10 |6 |16 |0 |16
November |10 |4 |14 |1 |15
December |9 |2 |11 |1 |12
1995
January |11 |1 |12 |0 |12
February |5 |3 |8 |1 |9
Figures exclude prisoners recaptured within 15 minutes provided that no further offence has been committed.
<1> Includes escapes from the Court Escort Service which would have been the responsibility of the Prison
Service in previous years (3 in 1993-94; Nil in April-January 1994-95.
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Prison Costs
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will itemise where the costs fall for prisoners held (a) in police cells and (b) by the Prison Service. [16392]
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. George Howarth, dated 30 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking where the costs fall for prisoners held (a) in police cells and (b) by the Prison Service.
As a general principle, the Prison Service reimburses police authorities for all reasonable additional costs incurred by them as a result of the police holding prisoners, when these are duties which would normally be undertaken by Prison Service staff.
These costs are met from the provision voted by Parliament to cover the costs of the Prison Service, as are the costs of all prisoners held directly by the Prison Service.
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per prisoner per night (a) of a prisoner held in a police cell and (b) of a prisoner held in the custody of the Prison Service. [16391]
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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 Mr. George Howarth, dated 30 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on the average cost per night (a) of a prisoner held in a police cell and (b) of a prisoner held in the custody of the Prison Service. In 1993 94 the average daily cost of holding a prisoner in a police cell was £250. The average net operating cost per prisoner place, for prisoners held within Prison Service establishments, was £22,712 per year, which produces a daily cost of approximately £62.
Departmental Annual Report
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of producing and circulating the last departmental annual report; what was the circulation list; how many copies were produced; how many copies were sold; and at what price. [16642]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: The cost of production and circulation borne by the Home Office was £22,265. I
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understand from HMSO that, as at 24 March, 2,000 copies had been produced for sale. The cover price is £14.55. I am placing a copy of the circulation list in the Library.Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of producing and circulating the departmental annual report for each of the last 10 years in real terms. [16643]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Departmental reports were published for the first time in 1991. Data for the five years of publication are as follows-- costs borne by the Home Office, calculated at 1993 94 prices using the gross domestic product deflator:
Production and Circulation Year |£ --------------------- 1991 |44.175 1992 |31.841 1993 |20.360 1994 |21.917 1995 |21.828
Prison Assaults
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of offences relating to assaults proved in disciplinary proceedings, including attempted assaults, incitement and assisting other prisoners in an assault and excluding criminal proceedings relating to assaults for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16267]
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. George Howarth, dated 30 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of proved offences of assault at disciplinary proceedings in each of the past 12 months.
The information requested is given in the attached table, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House.
Table 1: Assaults proved at adjudication<1>, March
1994 to
February 1995 in Prison Service establishments,
England and
Wales
Month |Number of proved
|assaults<2>
---------------------------------------------------
1994
March |497
April |449
May |494
June |433
July |462
August |532
September |494
October |495
November |468
December |469
1995
January |479
February |415
<1> Includes attempt, incite or assist in an
assault.
<2> Provisional figures.
Prisoners (Purposeful Activity)
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of hours each week which prisoners spend in purposeful activity including work, education, training, physical education programmes and excluding association, visits, meals or time spent outside the establishment for each of the past 12 months in prisons in England and Wales. [16264]
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. George Howarth, dated 30 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average number of hours per week which prisoners spend in purposeful activity for each of the past 12 months.
The information is contained in the table below.
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