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Prisoner Repatriations
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he received a response from the Republic of Ireland concerning the application by seven prisoners detained in the United Kingdom to be repatriated to prisons in the Republic; when he intends to reach a decision in each case; when he expects the prisoners to be repatriated; and if he will make a statement. [18899]
Miss Widdecombe: The Council of Europe convention of the transfer of sentenced persons came into force for the Republic of Ireland on 1 November 1995. The first seven requests made by prisoners in England and Wales seeking repatriation to the Republic were referred to the Irish authorities on 21 December. A response on five of these requests was received on 14 February; an response in respect of the two remaining requests is awaited.
All repatriation requests require careful consideration and repatriation is subject to both jurisdictions and the prisoner concerned consenting to the arrangements for the continued enforcement of the sentence concerned. Decisions will be made on the individual merits of each request and notified to the prisoner concerned as soon as is possible.
Children's Certificates (Public Houses)
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public houses have been issued with children's certificates. [18634]
Mr. Kirkhope: The latest available statistics are that, as at 30 June 1995, 1,669 children's certificates had been granted in respect of licensed premises in England and Wales. Statistics on the type of licensed premises concerned are not collected, but most are likely to be public houses.
5 Mar 1996 : Column: 200
Prevention of Terrorism Legislation
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of people held for (a) 48 hours or under and (b) over 48 hours under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism legislation for each year since 1975. [19069]
Mr. Howard: The number is set out in the table.
| Under 48 hours | Over 48 hours | |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 (from 29 November) | 13 | 46 |
| 1975 | 930 | 137 |
| 1976 | 1,006 | 60 |
| 1977 | 824 | 29 |
| 1978 | 599 | 23 |
| 1979 | 617 | 240 |
| 1980 | 411 | 126 |
| 1981 | 216 | 58 |
| 1982 | 183 | 37 |
| 1983 | 146 | 45 |
| 1984 | 163 | 40 |
| 1985 | 172 | 94 |
| 1986 | 145 | 57 |
| 1987 | 174 | 51 |
| 1988 | 161 | 25 |
| 1989 | 145 | 36 |
| 1990 | 158 | 35 |
| 1991 | 123 | 30 |
| 1992 | 143 | 17 |
| 1993 | 113 | 39 |
| 1994 | 57 | 4 |
| 1995 | 16 | 18 |
| Under 48 hours | Over 48 hours | |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1,119 | 1,580 |
| 1990 | 1,140 | 1,550 |
| 1991 | 1,186 | 1,681 |
| 1992 | 1,384 | 1,795 |
| 1993 | 1,252 | 1,638 |
| 1994 | 1,168 | 1,511 |
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) England and Wales and (c) Scotland for each year since 1974 who have been (i) questioned, (ii) charged, (iii) prosecuted and (iv) convicted under the prevention of terrorism legislation. [19068]
Mr. Howard: From 29 November 1974 until 22 March 1984, 141 people were charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976 following detention under those Acts. Fifteen cases were not proceeded with, 21 were acquitted and 105 were found guilty.
5 Mar 1996 : Column: 201
From 22 March 1984 until 31 December 1995, 94 people had been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1984 and 1989. Seventy-one were found guilty, four were acquitted and 19 cases were not proceeded with.
There are no figures available for the total number of people questioned under Prevention of Terrorism legislation.
Figures are not kept separately for England and Wales and for Scotland, and a year-by-year breakdown of charges could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Figures for Northern Ireland are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the administration and future of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989; and if he will make a statement. [19070]
Mr. Howard:
Since the Act was last renewed, one letter has been forwarded by a Member of Parliament.
In his report on the operation of the Act in 1995, the reviewer, Mr. J. J. Rowe QC, has recommended that the Act be renewed in its entirety. This view is support by the police.
Lord Lloyd has invited public comments on his inquiry into the continued need for counter-terrorism legislation and is receiving a considerable response.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applicants are accompanied by a child or children. [19115]
Mr. Kirkhope:
In 1995, 43,965 principal applicants applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. Of these, approximately 5,400--12 per cent.--were accompanied by dependants. The estimated total number of dependants was 11,000 of which approximately half were minor children.
The figures quoted include dependants accompanying or subsequently joining the principal applicant prior to an initial decision on the application being made.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the weekly cost to the public funds of maintaining an asylum seeker in (a) a detention centre (b) a prison. [19113]
Mr. Kirkhope:
For financial purposes, no distinction is made between people who have applied for asylum and others detained under Immigration Act powers. The average cost of detaining a person in a centre in the immigration service detention estate is currently estimated at £540 per week. This figure includes the cost of administrative support from headquarters.
The majority of asylum applicants detained in Prison Service accommodation will normally be housed separately in specially designated establishment, where the average cost per place in 1994-95 was £449 per week. This figure excludes headquarters costs.
5 Mar 1996 : Column: 202
The large majority of those who are detained who have claimed asylum at some stage have already had their applications rejected.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the specification of zinc-lined coffins for the disinterment and re-interment of those hanged and buried on HM prison premises became standard practice; and if he will review it. [19154]
Mr. Sackville:
A requirement for zinc-lined coffins has been specified, on health grounds, in licences for the removal of human remains in certain circumstances for very many years. The requirement would be reassessed in any case where we could be satisfied that the precaution was not needed.
Mr. George Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the costs of support from the parent company are contained in the cost per in-use certified normal accommodation place in accordance with published key performance indicators for privately run gaols. [18939]
Miss Widdecombe:
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 5 March 1996:
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is (a) the average budget for Metropolitan fire brigades and (b) the budget for the west midlands fire and civil defence authority in 1996-97. [19050]
Mr. Sackville:
The information for 1996-97 is not yet held centrally. For 1995-96 the position is as follows:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking to what extent the costs of support from the parent company are contained in the cost per in-use certified normal accommodation place in accordance with published key performance indicators for privately run gaols.
The figures used to report cost per place at privately managed prisons are based on payments made to the contractor for operating the prison. Payments are made on the basis of a contract agreed as a result of the competitive process. It is a matter for the contractor to what extent any parent company costs are borne on the contract price.
| £million | |
|---|---|
| London | 254.12 |
| Greater Manchester | 74.34 |
| Merseyside | 49.54 |
| South Yorkshire | 32.93 |
| Tyne and Wear | 36.18 |
| West Midlands | 71.85 |
| West Yorkshire | 55.08 |
| Average | 82.01 |
5 Mar 1996 : Column: 203
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