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Mr. Nicholas Baker: As at 31 April 1995, there were 57,610 applications for asylum outstanding in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 February, Official Report , column 695 , to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan), if he will identify the evidence which indicates that in the bulk of cases the asylum application is not made immediately after leave to enter or remain has been granted, but shortly before it is due to expire. [25692]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: An analysis of the available information for 1994 suggests that some 60 per cent. of asylum applications made by in-time visitors had not been made within one month of arrival in the United Kingdom, and about 40 per cent. had not been made within three months.
Immigration Officers
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the establishment of immigration officers at Leeds Bradford airport; and if he will make a statement. [26139]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 31 March, Official Report , column 860 . As part of the routine review of staffing and work load levels, the complement of immigration officers at Leeds Bradford has recently been increased by one.
Eurostar
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for asylum have been made by individuals arriving at Waterloo railway station on board Eurostar trains since January. [26181]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Between 1 January 1995 and 24 May 1995, a total of 148 applications for asylum were made by passengers arriving at Waterloo international terminal on Eurostar trains.
Detention Costs
Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 May, Official Report , column 364 , what was the total amount of detention costs reclaimed from carrying companies in (a) the most recent financial year for which information is available, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995 to date. [26273]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: The total amount of detention costs reclaimed from carrying companies in the financial year 1994 95 is £674,538.51. The total for 1994 is £597,125.21, and the total for this year to 23 May is £289,136.07.
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Data Protection
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 March, Official Report , column 181 , if he will make a statement on the parameters applying to filing systems under the draft data protection directive; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the data protection directive. [26448]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: In implementing the directive in respect of manual data, member states must have regard to the definition of a "personal data filing system" contained in article 2. Subject to this, the directive allows member states some flexibility in determining precisely the types of manual records to which the directive should apply. Once the final form of the directive is known, we shall be consulting widely on how these and other provisions should be implemented in United Kingdom law.
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the new offence of procuring unregistered disclosures, under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; and what discussions he has had with the Data Protection Registrar in relation to this offence. [26449]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: On the information available to me, I believe that the new offence, which was brought into force in February this year, has had a positive effect upon the unacceptable activities at which it was aimed. The Data Protection Registrar has kept Home Office officials closely informed of her plans for enforcing the offence.
Equine Crime Unit
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to enhance the work and performance of the Metropolitan equine intelligence unit; and if he will make a statement. [25596]
Mr. Maclean [holding answer 22 May 1995]: I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he plans to make more resources available to the equine crime unit, including personnel and information technology. The unit is now based in New Scotland Yard.
Immigration
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce application forms for use by foreign nationals wishing to apply for leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [26623]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Application forms will enable the Immigration Department to provide a more efficient service to applicants at a lower cost to the public purse. Genuine applicants will receive a speedier decision while those not entitled to further leave to stay will be refused more quickly, strengthening the immigration control. From 5 June, application forms for requests for limited leave to remain will be available from the application forms unit of the Immigration Department. Forms for settlement applications are in preparation. The scheme will not include applications under European Community law or applications for asylum. The operation of the scheme will be reviewed later this year following which we envisage making the use of application forms compulsory.
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Departmental Performance
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what performance indicators and performance targets there are for measuring the performance of his Department in (a) answering letters from members of the public and (b) answering telephone calls from members of the public; how performance is monitored; and what are the latest figures for performance measured against the target set. [26234]
Mr. Howard: Individual units and agencies are required to set clear targets for the time taken to deal with correspondence from the public and to monitor performance against those standards. The targets set range from five to 30 working days. Some parts of the Department use computerised tracking systems to monitor performance, and others take samples periodically. No records are however kept centrally of performance against targets.
There is no similar system of targets for answering telephone calls in most parts of the Department, but standards relating to courtesy and helpfulness have been laid down.
Complaints
Ms. Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy and procedures exist for dealing with complaints against his Department by members of the public; when his Department last updated its policy; what time limit and target for dealing with such complaints his Department has; and what follow-up procedure exists where complainants are not satisfied with his Department's response to a complaint. [26218]
Mr. Howard: There are various arrangements for dealing with complaints in different parts of the Department. These involve a range of time limits and targets. For example, the UK Passport Agency aims to deal fully with all problems raised within 15 working days, or to acknowledge them within five working days if they are not straightforward, and the Immigration and Nationality Department aims to respond within eight weeks of receiving a complaint.
The IND complaints system is monitored by an independent Complaints Audit Committee, which ensures that procedures are working effectively. The leaflets on complaints procedures produced by the Passport Agency and by IND make it clear that complainants who are not satisfied with the response they receive can raise the matter with the Home Office Minister responsible for the service, or with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
Contracting out
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for each piece of work subject to a bidding process under the auspices of (a) the Home Office and (b) agencies for which the Home Office is responsible where work was contracted out, who were the successful bidders; and which contracts were won by in-house bidders in (i) 1993 94; (ii) 1994 95; and (iii) 1995 96. [25523]
Mr. Howard: The table set out, for 1993 94 and 1994 95, the results of those "Competing for Quality" exercises in the Home Office, including the Prison Service, which proceeded to competition.
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Activity |Result
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) 1993-94-Prison Service
Court Escort and Custody Services |Contract awarded to
Metropolitan area |Securior Services
Doncaster Prison |Contract awarded to
|Premier Prison Services
Manchester Prison |In-house win
(ii) 1993-94-rest of Home Office
Statistical Data Collection |In-house win
Internal Audit |In-house win
Immigration and Nationality Department |In-house win
Security Guards
(iii) 1994-95-Prison Service
Buckley Hall Prison |Contract awarded to Group 4
Court Escort and Custody Services-East |Contract awarded to Group 4
Anglia
Facilities Management at the Prison Service |In-house win for administration,
College, Newbold Revel |works and ground maintenance.
|Contract awarded to Taylorplan Services
|for catering and housekeeping
IT Helpdesk |Contract awarded to Serco
(iv) 1994-95-rest of Home Office
Central Typing Services |In-house win
Records Storage and Retrieval |In-house win
Administrative Computer Services |Contract awarded to Sema Group plc
Central Training Services |In-house win
Central Reprographics and Design and |Service Level Agreement
Illustration services |awarded to Her Majesty's
|Stationery Office (HMSO)
Central Office Keeping and Messengerial Services |In-house win
Immigration and Nationality Department Typing Services |In-house win
Immigration and Nationality Department |In-house win
Messengerial and Reprographic Services
Immigration and Nationality Department |Contract awarded to
File management |Britannia Data
|Management (BDM)
No contracts or service level agreements have yet been awarded as a result of "Competing for Quality" exercises in 1995-96.
The estimated annual savings figures arising so far from the "Competing for Quality" programme since April 1992 are £19 million for the Prison Service and £11 million for the rest of the Home Office.
A substantial number of competitions also take place outside the "Competing for Quality" programme, mainly to meet requirements for a wide range of specialist services. Information on the results of these competitions is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Dangerous Dogs Act
Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the total cost so far of keeping dogs held under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in kennels; and if he will make a statement; [25671]
(2) what has been the total cost so far of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and if he will make a statement. [25670]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Information on the cost to the police, local authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the courts of operating the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is not held centrally.
Staff
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what changes there have been in the number of staff employed by (i) the Home Office and(ii) each agency for which the Home Office is responsible in (a) 1993 94 and (b) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96; [25496]
(2) what changes there have been in the number of staff in employment by grade in (a) his Department and (b) each agency for which his Department is responsible in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96; [25632]
(3) how many staff of (a) the Home Office and (b) agencies for which the Home Office is responsible, were employed on a casual or short-term basis in(i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95 and what are the projected figures for 1995 96. [25514]
Mr. Howard: The numbers of permanent and casual staff employed by my Department and each of its executive agencies in 1993 94, projected outturn for 1994 95, and plans for 1995 96 are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library. No projections broken down by grade are available.
Contracting Out
Ms. Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work has been contracted out by (i) his Department and (ii) by agencies for which the Department is responsible in (a) 1993 94, (b) 1994 95 and projected for 1995 96. [25521]
Mr. Howard: Details of work contracted out by my Department and agencies for which my Department is responsible for the specified years, are as follows:
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1993 94i. Court Escorts-- Greater London (Area 3).
ii. HMP Doncaster
iii. Education services in some prison establishments following the Further and Higher Education Act.
iv. HMP Reading (staff and inmate catering).
1994 95
i. Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre
ii HMP Buckley Hall
iii. Banking Services
iv. Court Escorts--East Anglia (Area 4).
v. Court Escorts--Merseyside, Greater Manchester, North Wales (Area 6).
vi. Legal Services--Fire Service College.
vii.Radio link installation and maintenance--Police Department. viii.Immigration and Nationality Department--File storage and retrieval services.
ix. Building support services--Forensic Science Service
x. Administrative Computer Services.
xi. IT Helpdesk.
Projected work-- 1995 96
i. Court Escorts--South West, South Wales (Area 1).
ii. Court Escorts--South, South East (Area 2)
iii. Court Escorts--West Midlands, Mid Wales (Area 5).
iv. HMP Bridgend--Design, Construct, Manage and Finance. v. HMP Fazakerley- -Design, Construct, Manage and Finance vi. HMP Lowdham Grange--Rebuild on Existing site.
vii. HMP Coldingley--Staff/Inmate catering and prison shop. viii. HMP Brixton--Staff Catering
ix. HMP Wealstun--Staff catering and prison shop.
x. HMP Highpoint--Prison Shop
xi. Transport for Police Staff College Bramshill.
Information on low-value work that has been contracted out during the period specified is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Talbot Bail Hostel
Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report on the Port Talbot bail hostel will be published. [25406]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Early in the summer.
Trespassers
Mrs. Gorman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the police have used their discretionary power to direct trespassers to leave land since 8 November 1994. [25539]
Mr. Maclean: This information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Lewis Probation Centre
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, and what consultations he has had, concerning the closure of Lewis probation centre, Neville street, Riverside, Cardiff; and what proposals he has to fund alternative specialist provision. [25601]
Column 707
Mr. Nicholas Baker: My right hon. and learned Friend has received no representations concerning the decision of the South Glamorgan probation committee to relocate its probation centre, with Home Office capital grant support, from Lewis street to Westgate street, Cardiff.
Fire Safety
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to reform the legislation in respect of Crown buildings which require a fire certificate but are not obliged to apply for one; and if he will make a statement; [25861]
(2) when he expects to lay before the House the Fire Precautions (Places of Work) Regulations to be made under section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971. [25862]
Mr. Nicholas Baker: Action on both these issues will depend on the outcome of the Government's consideration of the recommendations of the interdepartmental review of fire safety legislation and enforcement on which we hope to make an announcement shortly.
Mentally Ill Offenders
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places were available in secure units for mentally ill offenders (a) in 1990 and (b) in the latest year for which figures are available. [26081]
Mr. Bowis: I have been asked to reply.
In 1990, there were 572 places in medium secure units. By March 1995, this had increased to 792. The completion of our centrally funded building programme, to which we have allocated more than £47 million between 1991 and 1995, will take the total to over 1,150 by the end of 1996. There are also about 450 places in interim secure psychiatric units, many of which are of medium secure standard, and others which are funded by health authorities in independent sector facilities.
In addition, there are about 1,600 places in the three special hospitals at Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton. The number of secure places in local hospitals is not recorded centrally but is estimated at about 2,000.
There were no purpose-built NHS medium secure places in 1979, despite the fact that the Glancy committee had recommended them in its 1974 report.
WALES
Industrial Development
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral answer of 24 April, Official Report , columns 504-5, concerning Government grants and locational incentives, if he will ensure that no jobs are lost in the food processing industry in Wales as a direct displacement arising from grant-aided new jobs being created in the same industrial sector in NorthernIreland. [24950]
Mr. Redwood: When applications for assistance are being assessed displacement is always considered and the same criteria apply throughout the United Kingdom. The hon. Gentleman has written to me about a particular case and I will reply to him as soon as possible.
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Water Treatment Directive
Mr. Ainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list those areas of the Welsh coastline that have been designated (a) less sensitive and (b) high natural dispersion areas under the urban waste water treatment directive, 91/271/EEC; and if he will make a statment; [25991]
(2) what criteria has been used to designate those areas of the Welsh coastline as less and high natural dispersion areas under the urban waste water treatment directive, 91/271/EEC; and if he will make a statement; [25993]
(3) what plans he has to reclassify the Severn and Afan estuaries as coastal waters under the urban waste water treatment directive, 91/271/EEC, and what practical effect reclassification will have on existing or future sewage discharges in these estuaries [25992]
Mr. Gwilym Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18 May 1994 by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside, columns 511-12 .
The criteria for identifying high natural dispersion
areas--otherwise known as less sensitive areas--are set out in annex II B of the urban waste water treatment directive. A map showing all the areas identified in England and Wales as high natural dispersion areas was placed in the Library of the House. Maps defining, for the purposes of the directive, the outer limits of estuaries, including the Severn and Afan, are available for inspection at the National Rivers Authority's principal offices. The Government have no plans to redefine these limits.
Staff
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what changes there have been in the numbers of staff employed by (a) the Welsh Office and (b) agencies for which the Welsh Office is responsible, listing the changes in the number of staff agency by agency in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what changes are projected for 1995 96. [25060]
(2) what changes there have been in the number of staff in employment by grade in (a) his office and (b) each agency for which his office is responsible in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96 [25625]
(3) how many staff of (a) the Welsh Office and (b) agencies for which the Welsh Office is responsible, were employed on a casual or short-term basis in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96. [25490]
Mr. Redwood: The numbers of permanent and casual staff employed by my Department and Cadw in 1993 94, projected outturn for 1994 95 and plans for 1995 96 are published in my Department's annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many posts were lost in (a) the Welsh Office and (b) agencies for which the Welsh Office is responsible, listing the total lost posts agency by agency in (i) 1993 94 and (ii) 1994 95; and how many posts are proposed to be lost in 1995 96. [25082]
Mr. Redwood: This information is not held centrally.
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff of (a) the Welsh Office and (b) agencies
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for which the Welsh Office is responsible (i) took early retirement, (ii) took voluntary redundancy, (iii) took compulsory redundancy and (iv) were retired on medical grounds in (1) 1993 94 and (2) 1994 95; and what are the projected figures for 1995 96. [25479]Mr. Redwood: The information is set out as follows:
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Welsh Office Cadw
|1993-94 |1994-95 |1995-96 |1993-94 |1994-95 |1995-96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Early Retirement |4 |39 |16 |- |1 |-
Redundancy |9 |25 |- |- |- |-
Ill Health |19 |28 |3 |3 |3 |1
|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------
|32 |92 |19 |3 |4 |1
These figures include those who chose redundancy as an alternative to employment at other locations. Projected figures are not available.
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