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Mortar Ammunition
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he has taken of Britain's future ammunition capability in his decision to procure 81mm mortar ammunition. [23259]
Mr. Arbuthnot [holding answer 28 March 1996]: Tenders for the supply of 81mm ammunition are being conducted in accordance with our policy of securing value for money through competition where possible. Tenderers' proposals will be assessed in the light of all relevant factors including consideration of industrial implications. I expect contracts to be in place by the end of April.
Arms Sales
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the total annual cost of all forms of United Kingdom Government support for the export of armaments and all forms of defence sales. [22683]
Mr. Arbuthnot [holding answer 26 March 1996]:Within the Ministry of Defence, promotion of defence equipment exports is principally undertaken by the Defence Export Services Organisation, the net running costs of which are around £16 million a year. Other branches and individuals are from time to time involved in specific activities but it is not possible to estimate the cost. In addition, estimated receipts of about £1.5 million in 1995-96 have been forgone for commercial and policy reasons in connection with assistance to foreign Governments in respect of training.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Al Fayed Brothers (Citizenship Application)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will exceptionally give reasons for the refusal of United Kingdom citizenship to the Al Fayed brothers. [20066]
Prisoners
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of likely changes in the prison population over the next three years. [22707]
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 Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 29 March 1996:
29 Mar 1996 : Column: 789
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what estimate has been made of likely changes in the projected prison population of England and Wales over the next three years.
The latest long term prison population projections will be published in Home Office Statistical Bulletin 4/96 'Projections of the Long Term Trends in the Prison Population to 2004' on 2 April. A copy will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
The average prison population is expected to be 53,500 in 1997; 54,300 in 1998; and 55,100 in 1999. The long-term prison population projections do not take account of the sentencing proposals to be outlined in the forthcoming White Paper.
Prison Visitors
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is given to prison governors about the searching of visitors to prisons. [22664]
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 Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 29 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about advice given to prison governors on the searching of visitors to prisons.
Instructions on the searching of visitors can be found in section 69 of the Prison Service Manual on Security, copies of which are held in the Library of the House.
Women Prisoners (Domestic Violence)
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission a study into the number and percentage of women prisoners who have been the victims of domestic violence. [22665]
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 Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 29 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking if he will commission a study into the number and percentage of women prisoners who have been the victims of domestic violence.
There are no plans to conduct such a study.
Doncaster Prison
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions to date (a) cell lock or (b) other door or gate lock keys have been lost at Doncaster prison since it opened; and if he will make a statement. [23070]
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. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 March 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the loss of cell locks, door locks and gate lock keys at Doncaster prison.
No keys which permit access to cells or which would open gates have ever been lost. One key, which opened a store-room, was mislaid on 17 January 1996. The lock was changed immediately. Enquiries revealed that a member of staff had inadvertently removed the key from the prison. It was subsequently returned.
29 Mar 1996 : Column: 790
Prisoners (Drug Tests)
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have tested positive for using class A drugs as a result of mandatory drug testing over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [23173]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked for a reply to be given. Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Elfyn Llwyd, dated 29 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have tested positive for using class A drugs in the last 12 months.
Between February 1995 and January 1996 there were 470 random test results positive for opiates, methadone, cocaine and LSD, the class A drugs tested for. Results for February 1996 are not yet available.
Orders
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many orders under the negative resolution procedure have been brought into effect on the day they have been made since January 1995. [23315]
Irish Prisoners
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 404, what conditions were imposed by the discretionary lifer panel on the release of Noel Gibson, Sean Kinsella and Stephen Nordare; when those conditions were removed; what decision has been made in respect of Brendan Dowd; when the Northern Ireland Parole Board is going to consider the case of Paul Norney; and if he will make a statement. [23760]
Miss Widdecombe: In addition to the standard conditions imposed on all life licensees, Noel Gibson, Sean Kinsella and Stephen Nordone were required to live initially at addresses in England or Wales in order to comply with the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. In response to recommendations from the Probation Service and the Parole Board, these conditions were removed on 18 March, thus allowing the men to leave the country. Mr. Dowd's request to be repatriated to the Irish Republic has been granted and he has consented to this. It is now for the Irish Government to confirm their consent by obtaining a warrant for his removal to, and continued detention in, the Republic. The timing of the referral to the Northern Ireland life sentence review board of the case of Paul Norney is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Section 95 Publications
Mr. Ian Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans to publish material this year, pursuant to his obligations under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. [24186]
29 Mar 1996 : Column: 791
Mr. Maclean: I have today placed in the Library copies of the section 95 publication for 1995. This latest publication is based on the work done by the Criminal Justice Consultative Council in following up its 1994 report on race. The report shows considerable progress across a wide range of areas and makes clear the commitment of each agency and Government Department to ensuring that any discrimination in the criminal justice system is eradicated.
Police Custody Deaths
Mr. Merchant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths there were in police custody in the Metropolitan police district in each of the last five years; and if he will break down the figures by ethnic origin. [24284]
Mr. Maclean: The following is the information required:
| White | Black | Asian | Unclassified | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990(12) | 14 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 20 |
| 1991-92 | 20 | 2 | 4 | -- | 26 |
| 1992-93 | 15 | 2 | 1 | -- | 18 |
| 1993-94 | 10 | 4 | 2 | -- | 16 |
| 1994-95 | 10 | 3 | 2 | -- | 15 |
| 1995-96 | 10 | 3 | -- | -- | 13 |
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