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Dykebar Hospital, Paisley
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discusses the future of Dykebar hospital, Paisley with representatives of (a) Argyll and Clyde health board and (b) Renfrewshire Healthcare trust; and if he will make a statement. [24106]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My noble and learned Friend the Minister of State meets the chairmen of health boards and NHS trusts in Scotland from time to time when he discusses a range of matters. The future of Dykebar hospital will be considered in the context of Argyll and Clyde health board's community care plan which is still in preparation. Once finished, the plan will be subject to extensive public consultation.
Security Companies
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a licensing scheme for security companies; and if he will make a statement. [24157]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to do so, but he will be considering the position on the publication of the report of the Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry into the private security industry in England and Wales. This report is expected shortly.
NHS Acute Beds
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last discussed with any member or official of the Greater Glasgow health board the acute bed strategy; what changes he suggested; and if he will make a statement. [24040]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: My right Friend has been kept informed by the health board as its strategy has developed. Public consultation on the acute elements of the board's strategy ended on 30 April; consultation on the maternity services elements is still under way. I expect
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the health board to submit its proposals formally for my right hon. Friend's consideration once it has considered the response to the consultation exercise.Mortgage Repossessions
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many court actions relating to mortgage repossessions in Paisley were heard in Paisley sheriff court in each year since 1980; and if he will make a statement. [24068]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested, but 206 such actions were initiated at Paisley sheriff court in 1994 and decrees in absence were granted in 188 actions at the court during the same 12-month period.
Operation Dragon
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Operation Dragon in Strathclyde. [24084]
Lord James Douglas Hamiliton: My right hon. Friend fully supports the chief constable of Strathclyde police in mounting of Operation Dragon which is well organised and well resourced. The objective of the operation is to curb the recent outbreak of violent crime and to enable the police to identify and arrest those responsible. A number of arrests have been made and the police have recovered a number of shotguns and ammunition, handguns and replica handguns. The operation is continuing.
Temazepam
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the maximum penalities for those convicted of the illegal dealing in the drug temazepam; what plans he has to stiffen such sentences; and if he will make a statement. [24092]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: Offences under Sections 4(3) and 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in relation to the supply of, or intent to supply, class C drugs, including temazepam, carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £2,500 when tried on indictment.
The maximum fine for these offences was increased from £500 to £2, 500 as recently as February of this year, when the relevant section of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 came into effect. There are no present plans to increase further the maximum penalties available to the courts for such offences.
Returning Officers
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the amount paid or payable to each returning officer in Scotland at the 1995 local elections; what out-of-pocket expenses had to be met from these payments; what was the level of payment to each other grade involved in these elections; and if he will make a statement. [24108]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: This information is not collected centrally. Returning officers' fees and expenses and other costs relating to the conduct of local government elections are met by the local authority. A total of £5 million was, however, made available
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exceptionally by the Scottish Office to regional councils to cover the cost of the elections to the shadow councils in April.Scottish Homes
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current and specific remit of the national housing agency, Scottish Homes. [24116]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 established Scottish Homes and gave it a wide range of functions and powers to promote housing in Scotland. Scottish Homes' current aim, which reflects the Government's objective for housing in Scotland and is endorsed by my right hon. Friend, is to ensure the quality of housing and variety of housing options available in Scotland are substantially improved. It has six specific main objectives to achieve this aim. These were set out in Scottish Homes' recently published strategic plan for the period up to 1997 98.
Electricity Prices
Mr. Salmond: To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral statement of 9 May, Official Report, column 565, if he will break down into its constituent parts the components of his forecast of an 8 per cent. fall in electricity prices in Scotland with particular reference to savings accruing from the ending of the nuclear premium. [24146]
Mr. Kynoch: The premium element in the price which Scottish Nuclear receives for its output from Scottish Power and Hydro-Electric under the nuclear energy agreement began to reduce in 1994 95. It was due to end entirely in 1998 99. The Government have now decided that the remaining element of the premium will not continue until 1998; instead it will be ended at the point of privatising Scottish Nuclear's two advanced gas- cooled reactor stations. It is proposed that changes will be made in the supply price control to ensure that the savings to ScottishPower and Hydro- Electric will be passed through to Scottish franchise customers. The Office of Electricity Regulation has calculated that the removal of the premium between 1994 95 and 1996 97 will result in franchise electricity prices in Scotland reducing by around 8 per cent. in real terms over that period.
Mr. Home Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the net effect on electricity bills per household in Scotland of the premature abolition of the nuclear premium under the Government's plans to privatise the nuclear industry. [24502]
Mr. Kynoch: The premium element in the price which Scottish Nuclear receives for its output from ScottishPower and Hydro-Electric under the nuclear energy agreement began to reduce in 1994 95. It was due to end entirely in 1998 99. The Government have now decided that the remaining element of the premium will not continue until 1998 but will be ended at the point of privatising Scottish Nuclear's two AGR stations. At that time, changes will be made in the supply price control to ensure that the resultant savings to ScottishPower and Hydro-Electric are passed through to Scottish franchise customers. The Office of Electricity Regulation has
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calculated that the removal of the premium between 1994 95 and 1996 97 will result in franchise electricity prices in Scotland reducing by around 8 per cent. in real terms over that period, of which around 3 to 4 per cent. will be delivered in 1996 97.HOME DEPARTMENT
Derek Bentley
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will review the release dates set by his predecessors for papers in the Derek Bentley case to conform fully with subsequent legal rulings on the obligations of the Home Office to disclose information; [24910]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report submitted to his Department by the investigating officer on behalf of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis regarding inconsistencies in the evidence, including evidence not available to the court or the public, relating to the case of Derek Bentley. [24936]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question of 18 May, at columns 363 64.
Probation Services, Mid Glamorgan
Dr. Howells: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which of the newly formed unitary authorities will have responsibility for the provision of probation services currently provided by officers of Mid Glamorgan county council in (a) the Rhymney Valley, (b) Merthyr, (c) Aberdare and (d) Porth (e) Bridgend. [25050]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Local authorities contribute to the costs of, but do not have responsibility for, the provision of probation services. Such services are provided by probation committees. The Mid Glamorgan probation committee is responsible for the provision of services in its area. On 16 May, our intention to make changes to the Mid Glamorgan probation area was announced, and I refer the hon. Member to the answer
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given to the hon. Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) of that date, at columns 189 90 .Probation Service, South Glamorgan
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total grant given by his Department to South Glamorgan probation service this year and each of the last three years in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms. [25602]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Information is given in the table.
|1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 |1995-96
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cash terms |2,642,191|2,785,037|3,038,229|2,018,655
Real terms |2,642,191|2,702,345|2,890,215|2,781,206
The figures are in terms of specific grant cash limits. In addition to the cash terms figure shown for 1995 96, a further £202,486 is added to support probation service partnerships with the independent sector previously funded by the Home Office.
Fine Defaulters
Mr. Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were imprisoned because of default on fines levied by the courts in the last year for which figures are available, and in each of the previous 20 years. [25318]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for this mater 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. Alun Michael, dated 22 May 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many people were imprisoned because of fine default on fines levied by the courts in the last year for which figures are available, and in each of the previous 20 years.
Provisional information shows that 22,400 persons in 1993 and 22,700 persons in 1994 were received into Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for fine default. Information for earlier years is published in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales" (Table 7.1 of the 1992 edition, Cm 2581), an extract of which is attached.
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Table 7.3: Receptions into prison in default of payment of a fine: by period and sex, 1974-84
Number of persons
Period imposed in |1974 |1975 |1976 |1977 |1978 |1979 |1980 |1981 |1982 |1983 |1984
default
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Males
Up to and including 1 week |1,000 |1,032 |1,015 |1,526 |3,606 |3,624 |3,210 |3,670 |4,052 |3,726 |3,576
Over 1 week up to and including 2 weeks |1,875 |1,751 |1,705 |1,660 |2,937 |3,101 |2,731 |3,801 |4,468 |4,183 |4,480
Over 2 weeks up to and including 1 month |3,487 |3,669 |3,646 |3,371 |4,494 |5,208 |5,011 |7,425 |9,283 |9,086 |8,154
Over 1 month up to and including 2 months |3,215 |3,749 |4,208 |4,113 |2,710 |2,689 |2,629 |3,583 |3,867 |3,517 |3,099
Over 2 months up to and including 3 months |1,959 |2,799 |3,645 |3,617 |1,304 |948 |927 |1,063 |1,070 |966 |684
Over 3 months up to and including 6 months |516 |717 |903 |838 |467 |484 |434 |474 |391 |406 |258
Over 6 months |62 |85 |73 |59 |29 |38 |34 |30 |37 |36 |24
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Total |12,114 |13,802 |15,195 |15,184 |15,547 |16,092 |14,976 |20,046 |23,168 |21,920 |20,275
Females
Up to and including 1 week |71 |41 |55 |89 |249 |223 |230 |214 |252 |289 |439
Over 1 week up to and including 2 weeks |87 |112 |106 |144 |213 |263 |236 |287 |323 |314 |376
Over 2 weeks up to and including 1 month |233 |262 |247 |273 |280 |306 |331 |425 |530 |499 |485
Over 1 month up to and including 2 months |64 |122 |184 |188 |100 |119 |123 |136 |157 |165 |149
Over 2 months up to and including 3 months |44 |63 |109 |132 |41 |31 |33 |33 |39 |40 |33
Over 3 months up to and including 6 months |8 |12 |14 |27 |9 |9 |7 |10 |21 |12 |4
Over 6 months |1 |3 |1 |3 |3 |1 |2 |2 |2 |2 |-
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Total |508 |615 |716 |856 |895 |952 |962 |1,107 |1,324 |1,321 |1,486
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Males and females total |12,622 |14,417 |15,911 |16,040 |16,442 |17,044 |15,938 |21,153 |24,492 |23,241 |21,761
Source:
Extract from Prison Statistics England and Wales.
Table 7.1: Population, receptions and estimated average time spent in Prison Service establishments: by sex, 1982-92
Fine defaulters
|1982 |1983 |1984 |1985 |1986 |1987 |1988 |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population at 30 June
All fine defaulters |909 |900 |792 |563 |511 |626 |576 |484 |466 |409 |382
Males |871 |854 |752 |540 |491 |598 |549 |460 |441 |397 |359
Females |38 |46 |40 |23 |20 |28 |27 |24 |25 |12 |23
Total sentenced population |36,000|35,438|35,496|37,344|36,450|39,303|38,548|38,013|35,220|35,114|35,564
Fine defaulters as a percentage of total sentenced population |2.5 |2.5 |2.2 |1.5 |1.4 |1.6 |1.5 |1.3 |1.3 |1.2 |1.1
Population serving sentences of imprisonment of 6 months or less<1> |5,588 |6,006 |6,205 |6,285 |4,787 |4,856 |3,563 |3,744 |3,238 |3,650 |3,621
Fine defaulters as a percentage of population serving sentences of imprisonment of 6 months or less |16.3 |15.0 |12.8 |9.0 |10.7 |12.9 |16.2 |12.9 |14.4 |11.2 |10.5
Receptions
All fine defaulters |24,492|23,241|21,761|20,493|19,159|18,723|16,817|16,985|16,659|18,973|19,826
Males |23,168|21,920|20,275|19,108|18,084|17,804|15,881|16,117|15,814|17,997|18,782
Females |1,324 |1,321 |1,486 |1,385 |1,075 |919 |936 |868 |845 |976 |1,044
All receptions under sentence |94,377|93,414|92,810|96,189|86,153|86,358|81,836|76,430|67,510|72,313|69,832
Fine defaulters as a percentage of all receptions under sentence |26.0 |24.9 |23.4 |21.3 |22.2 |21.7 |20.5 |22.2 |24.7 |26.2 |28.4
All receptions under sentence of imprisonment of 6 months or less<1> |52,195|51,415|50,242|49,287|43,109|41,446|39,391|42,209|36,813|41,245|40,509
Fine defaulters as a percentage of all receptions under sentence of imprisonment of 6 months or less |46.9 |45.2 |43.3 |41.6 |44.4 |45.2 |42.7 |40.2 |45.3 |46.0 |48.9
Average time served (days)<2>
Males |14.1 |14.1 |12.9 |11.3 |10.9 |10.9 |9.9 |8.1 |7.0 |7.5 |<3>7.3
Females |11.0 |10.1 |8.7 |8.1 |7.9 |8.4 |7.1 |6.0 |6.0 |6.8 |<3>6.8
<1> Excludes detention centre trainees; includes youth custody trainees and persons sentenced to detention in a young offender institution.
<2> Excluding those remaining in custody as fine defaulters on completion of a custodial sentence for criminal offence.
<3> January to June.
Source:
Extract from Prison Statistics England and Wales.
Jewish Burial Ground, London
Jewish Burial Ground, Kingsbury Road
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he gave approval for the removal of bodies from the Jewish burial ground at Kingsbury road off Balls Pond road, London N1; and what representations he has received about this. [25404]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The Secretary of State's directions with respect to the removal and reinterment of human remains interred in the Jewish burial ground at Kingsbury road, London N1 were given on 13 October 1994, in accordance with the provisions of the Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment) Act 1981. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State has since received four letters of representation on the matter. His involvement is limited to ensuring that the removal and reinterment of human remains are carried out with due care and attention to decency. Before any removals can take place, the applicants will be required, under the 1981 Act, to advertise their intentions in the local press, and by
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notices posted at the burial ground, so that interested parties may have the opportunity to object to the proposals.Consultancy Costs
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the level of expenditure on consultancy by (i) the Home Office and (ii) agencies for which the Home Office is responsible for (a) 1993 94, (b) 1994 95 and (c) the projected figure for 1995 96. [25522]
Mr. Howard: Information on the level of expenditure for consultancy contracts let by the Home Office, and agencies for which the Home Office is responsible, during the period specified is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Majority Shareholdings
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those companies in which the holder of his office is a majority shareholder which (a) are currently in existence and (b) have been wound up in the past five years. [25715]
Mr. Howard: The Secretary of State for the Home Department is not a major shareholder in any company, nor has he held a majority shareholding in any company which has been wound up in the past five years.
Mr. Richard Linford
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment was made by (a) Essex police and (b) the Prison Service of Mr. Richard Linford's psychiatric condition prior to his imprisonment. [24691]
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. Harry Cohen, dated 22 May 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what assessment was made by Essex police and the Prison Service of Mr. Richard Linford's psychiatric condition before his imprisonment.
Mr. Linford was remanded in custody by Chelmsford Magistrates Court on 28 November 1994. The Prison Service did not, therefore, have any opportunity to assess his psychiatric condition prior to his reception into its custody. The matter of what assessment was made of Mr. Linford's psychiatric condition by the police prior to his reception or by the Prison Service after his reception into prison will be one of the questions to be examined in the course of the independent inquiry the Prison Service is jointly commissioning with North Essex Health Authority and Essex Social Services into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Christopher Edwards.
Secure Mental Hospitals (Manslaughter Detainees)
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 May, Official Report, column 554, what proportion of patients with secure mental hospital orders for manslaughter has been given any kind of leave of absence it the last 10 years. [25157]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: This information is not available.
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 May, Official Report, column 554, in which secure mental hospitals each of the patients who pleaded guilty to manslaughter was detained. [25134]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Information on the plea entered by defendants is not available centrally for those sentenced to detention in a secure mental hospital. The following information is based on those restricted patients with a hospital order who were sentenced for manslaughter.
List of hospitals to which each of the patients who were convicted of manslaughter and given a hospital order were initially admitted (1985-94) Hospital name |Admissions --------------------------------------------------------- Broadmoor |67 Rampton |60 Ashworth |<1>58 Arnold Lodge |2 Bexley |3 Calderstones |1 Camlet Lodge |2 Cane Hill |1 Caswell Clinic |2 Central Hospital, Warwick |2 Claybury |1 Clent Unit |1 Doncaster Gate |3 East Glamorgan |1 Edenfield Centre |1 Fairmile |1 Friern |1 Goodmayes |1 Hackney |6 Knapsbury |2 Kneesworth |2 Knowle |2 Langdon |1 Long Grove |2 Maidstone |2 Mapperley |1 Moorgreen |1 Newton Lodge |1 North Wales Hospital |2 Northern General, Sheffield |2 Northgate |1 Norvic Clinic |2 Pastures |1 Pen y Fai |1 Poole Hospital |5 Prestwich |5 Rainhill |1 Reaside |10 Roundway |1 Runwell |3 Scott Clinic |5 Severalls |1 St. Bernard's, Ealing |12 St. James' |1 St. Augustine's |1 St. Nicholas, Newcastle |1 St. Francis, Hayward's Heath |2 St. Andrew's, Northampton |1 Stanley Royd |2 Storthes Hall |1 Three Bridges |4 Towers |2 Trevor Gibbens Unit |1 Waddilove's |1 Warlingham |1 Whittingham |1 Winterton |1 <1> Moss Side and Park Lane merged to become Ashworth in February 1990.
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation is required by his Department before people being detained in secure mental hospitals after conviction for manslaughter with diminished responsibility are released into the community. [23526]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 10 May 1995]: Where such a person is subject to both a hospital and a restriction order, the powers of the responsible medical officer to grant leave to, or discharge, the patient may be
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exercised only with the consent of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. Discharge may also be directed by a mental health review tribunal. In considering whether it is safe for a restricted patient to be granted leave or discharged, the Home Office takes account of all relevant information including reports by the responsible medical officer and members of the care team.Abdelaziz Bouteraa
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assurances his Department has sought regarding the proposed release into the community from Chase Farm hospital of Abdelaziz Bouteraa. [23520]
Mr. Michael Forsyth [holding answer 10 May 1995]: I am not aware of any current proposal to dischargeMr. Bouteraa from hospital. Mr. Bouteraa has overstayed his permitted leave to remain in the United Kingdom and has been served with a notice of intention to deport him. He has appealed against this decision to the independent appellate authorities. His immigration status will be reviewed in the light of his medical condition and the outcome of appeal proceedings.
Disclosure Demands
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral statement of 16 May, Official Report , columns 167-71, if he will list the criminal cases drawn to his attention which had to be abandoned due to unreasonable demands by defence lawyers for disclosure. [25260]
Mr. Howard: Paragraph 15 of the consultation document which I published on 16 May lists examples of cases drawn to my attention which have been abandoned following a court ruling on the disclosure of sensitive material.
Prison Staff
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prison staff on the accelerated promotion scheme are women. [25150]
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. Barbara Roche, dated 22 May 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of women on the Prison Service Accelerated Promotion Scheme.
There are, at present, 89 members of the Prison Service on the Accelerated Promotion Scheme, 34 of whom are women.
Remand Prisoners
Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remand prisoners in England and Wales had been in custody for (a) up to three months, (b) from three to six months, (c) for six to nine months, (d) from nine to 12 months and (e) more than 12 months, on the latest date for which information is available. [24373]
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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. Gerald Bermingham dated, 22 May 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many remand prisoners in England and Wales had been in custody for (a) up to three months, (b) from three to six months, (c) from six to nine months, (d) from nine to 12 months and (e) more than 12 months, on the latest date for which information is available. The latest available provisional data for England and Wales is for 31 December 1994 and is shown in the attached table.
Remand prisoners in Prison Service establishments in
England and Wales by length of time since first reception<1>
on 31 December 1994
Time since first |31 December 1994<2>
remand
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 3 months |6,660
More than 3 months, up to and including 6 months |2,660
More than six months, up to and including 9 months |940
More than 9 months, up to and including 12 months |840
Over 12 months |320
|--------
|11,420
<1> Awaiting trial or sentence. Time since first reception on remand into a Prison Service
establishment. This includes any intervening time spent on bail, but excludes time spent
in police cells beforehand.
<2> Rounded estimates which therefore may not add to the totals.
Mr. Bermingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the remand population in England and Wales for the latest available date. [24372]
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. Gerald Bermingham, dated 22 May 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the remand population in England and Wales for the latest available date.
The latest available figure is for 28 February 1995, when there was a total of 11,970 prisoners on remand in England and Wales, including 124 being held in police cells.
Crack Cocaine
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been cautioned for possession of crack cocaine in each of the last five years. [24011]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Home Office records show that one person was cautioned for possession of crack cocaine in 1990. Three persons were so cautioned in 1991, and 14 persons in 1992. Information for 1993 is not available separately and that for 1994 is not yet available.
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police stations have
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cautioned persons in respect of possession of crack cocaine in 1994. [24013]Mr. Michael Forsyth: Information regarding individual police stations is not collected centrally. The only readily available information regarding cautioning for possession of crack cocaine relates to the years1990 to 1992 and shows that all but two of the 18 cautions administered during that time were given by the Metropolitan police.
Women (Sentences)
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the sentenced female population in England and Wales on the latest date available, broken down by type of offence, length of sentence and previous convictions. [24269]
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 22 May 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the sentenced female population in England and Wales on the latest date available, broken down by type of offence, length of sentence and previous convictions.
The latest date for which figures are available is 28 February 1995. Figures for female population on this date by type of offence and length of sentence are contained in the attached tables. The latest available published information on the previous convictions of females was given in "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1992" Cm 2581, Table 5.2, an extract of which is attached.
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Female sentenced population, England and Wales,
on 28 February 1995, by type of offence:<1> <2>
Offence group
--------------------------------------------------------
Violence against the person |268
Sexual offences |11
Burglary |51
Robbery |93
Theft and handling |251
Fraud and forgery |92
Drugs offences |330
Other offences |124
Offence not recorded |163
|--------
Total |1,383
<1> Excludes fine defaulters.
<2> Provisional figures.
Female sentenced population, England and Wales,
on 28 February 1995, by length of sentence<1>< 2><>
Sentence length
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to and including 3 months |94
Over 3 months and up to 6 months |146
Over 6 months and up to 12 months |198
Over 12 months and up to 18 months |127
Over 18 months and up to 3 years |279
Over 3 years and up to 4 years |125
Over 4 years and up to 5 years |102
Over 5 years and up to 10 years |178
Over 10 years and less than life |26
Life |106
|--------
Total |1,383
<1> Excludes fine defaulters.
<2> Provisional figures.
Table 5.2: Population in Prison Service establishments under sentence on 30 June 1992:
by offence group and previous convictions<1>
England and Wales
Number of persons
Offence group All adult feNumber of
preivous
convictions<2>
|nil |1-2 |3-5 |6-10 |11 and over
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Violence against the person |158 |60 |20 |20 |20 |20
Rape |2 |- |- |- |- |0
Other sexual offences |7 |- |- |- |- |0
Burglary |40 |10 |10 |10 |10 |10
Robbery |37 |- |10 |10 |10 |10
Theft and handling |172 |30 |40 |30 |40 |40
Fraud and forgery |52 |20 |10 |10 |10 |10
Drugs offences |245 |130 |30 |30 |30 |30
Other offences |143 |60 |20 |20 |20 |20
Offence not recorded |160 |50 |30 |30 |30 |30
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Offences with immediate custodial sentence |1,016 |360 |160 |160 |160 |170
Source:
Extract from: "Prison Statistics England and Wales 1992", Cm 2581.
<1> Estimated using self-reporting of previous criminal history in the national prison survey 1991 and the distribution of
previous convictions in the 1991 prison population. Excludes fine defaulters.
<2> Rounded estimates to the nearest 10, which therefore may not add to the totals.
Female Prisoners
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional cell and bed space had been made available during the last six months in each female gaol in England and Wales. [24273]
Mr. Michael Forsyth: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison
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Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Derek Lewis to Dr. Lynne Jones, dated 22 May 1995 : The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the additional cell and bed space made available during the last six months in each female prison in England and Wales.Column 493
Establishments that have provided additional cell and bed space during the last six months are given in the table below:
Certified Normal Accommodation (CNA) available for use in
Female Prison Establishments in England and Wales
on 30 November 1994 and 28 April 1995
CNA in use Increase
Establishment |30 November 1994|28 April 1995
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Hall |169 |207 |+38
Risley |132 |154 |+22
Winchester |0 |60 |+60
|-------- |-------- |--------
Total |1,948 |2,068 |+120
Note:
Cell and bed space in all other female establishments has remained unaltered in the
last six months.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the female prisoner
Column 494
population in England and Wales on the last day of April in 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991 broken down by category of offence. [24268]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. Ly nne Jones, dated 22 May 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the female prisoner population in England and Wales on the last day of April in 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991 broken down by category of offence.
The available information relates to the sentenced female prison population on 30 June each year. This information was published on 27 April 1995 in a Home Office Statistical Bulletin entitled "The prison population in 1994" (table 6, Issue 8/95), an extract of which is attached.
Column 493
Table 6: Population in Prison Service establishments under sentence on 30 June by sex and offence group, 1989-94
England and Wales
Number of persons
Sex and offence |1989 |1990 |1991 |1992 |1993 |1994<1>
group
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Males
Offences with immediate custodial sentence
Violence against the person |8,449 |7,477 |6,945 |6,893 |7,273 |7,600
Rape |1,343 |1,441 |1,508 |1,582 |1,593 |1,650
Other sexual offences |1,639 |1,577 |1,585 |1,564 |1,572 |1,650
Burglary |7,038 |5,885 |5,082 |5,349 |4,690 |5,100
Robbery |4,151 |4,052 |3,990 |4,174 |4,856 |5,040
Theft and handling |4,073 |3,042 |2,910 |2,910 |2,578 |3,030
Fraud and forgery |937 |795 |791 |800 |826 |890
Drugs offences |2,896 |2,829 |2,584 |2,899 |2,900 |3,140
Motoring offences |902 |659 |861 |967 |1,045 |1,510
Other offences |3,225 |2,621 |2,311 |2,490 |2,248 |2,290
Offence not recorded<2> |1,621 |3,148 |5,002 |4,402 |1,794 |2,060
All offences |36,274 |33,526 |33,569 |34,030 |31,375 |33,970
In default of payment of a fine |460 |441 |397 |359 |522 |510
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
All males all offences |36,734 |33,967 |33,966 |34,389 |31,897 |34,480
Females
Offences with immediate custodial sentence
Violence against the person |218 |201 |189 |184 |216 |270
Rape |7 |3 |1 |2 |1 |1
Other sexual offences |16 |8 |15 |8 |14 |10
Burglary |68 |51 |39 |51 |39 |40
Robbery |82 |51 |46 |56 |77 |90
Theft and handling |230 |203 |175 |190 |207 |230
Fraud and forgery |63 |50 |42 |53 |64 |70
Drugs offences |317 |318 |272 |259 |308 |320
Motoring offences |2 |5 |2 |3 |7 |20
Other offences |174 |207 |174 |155 |118 |120
Offence not recorded<2> |78 |131 |181 |191 |74 |100
All offences |1,255 |1,228 |1,136 |1,152 |1,125 |1,270
In default of payment of a fine |24 |25 |12 |23 |24 |20
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
All females all offences |1,279 |1,253 |1,148 |1,175 |1,149 |1,290
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
All males and females |38,013 |35,220 |35,110 |35,564 |33,046 |35,770
<1> Provisional rounded estimates. Components may not add to totals because they have been rounded independently.
<2> Includes 30 court martial prisoners for 1989 with "not recorded", from 1990 court martial prisoners are included under the appropriate offence.
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners were received on remand during 1993 and 1994; and how many were eventually (a) given a custodial sentence, (b) given
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a non-custodial sentence and (c) acquitted or not proceeded with. [24271]
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