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Prison Sanitation
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners had 24 hour access to sanitation on (a) 12 April, (b) 12 May and (c) currently. [31064]
Miss Widdecombe: 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 A. J. Pearson to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 4 June 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 percentage of prisoners who had 24 hour access to sanitation on (a) 12 April, (b) 12 May and (c) currently.
The Prison Service achieved its performance target of ensuring that all prisoners had access to sanitation at all times on 12 April 1996 and full access has been maintained since then. This has been achieved despite a record rise in the prison population and despite the Service's need to reduce costs.
Deportations
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of people deported under Immigration Act powers from the United Kingdom for March and April. [31185]
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Mr. Kirkhope: The number of persons removed under the deportation process, including voluntary departures after deportation action had been initiated, was 146 in March 1996. In addition, 231 illegal entrants were removed or departed voluntarily. Complete data for April are not yet available.
Dangerous Dogs
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many dogs have been destroyed as a result of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991;[31078]
- (2) how many dogs are currently in police kennels awaiting the implementation of destruction orders; what is the average period of detention; and what is the longest current period of detention for a dog. [31077]
Mr. Sackville: Some 770 destruction orders were made between 1992 and 1994, although some of these orders will have been the subject of appeals. Figures for 1995 are likely to be available in the autumn.
There are currently 13 dogs held in police kennels in England and Wales awaiting the implementation of a destruction order under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The average period of detention for these dogs is two years and four months, and the longest period of detention for a dog is currently four years and five months.
Mr. Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in respect of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; and what proposals he has to amend the legislation. [31076]
Mr. Sackville:
The Department has received representations from various individuals and organisations which also submitted views to the recent House of Lords Select Committee on the Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill [Lords]. Details are contained in its report, published on 26 February, HL paper No.48. The Government were unable to accept the recommendation contained in the report that the Act should be amended.
Representations have also been made to the Home Affairs Committee which is currently inquiring into the operation of the Act. While the Government will, of
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course, consider carefully any recommendations which the Committee may make, there are currently no plans to amend the Act.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support he gives to organisations which provide sanctuary, treatment and rehabilitation in the wild for wild animals and birds; and if he will make a statement. [30793]
Mr. Sackville:
I am not aware of any grant aid to any such organisations in recent years.
Mr. Henderson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the capital cost of Tinsley house immigration detention centre; and what are the terms of repayment under the private finance initiative; [31210]
Mr. Kirkhope:
Tinsley house was not fully funded through the private finance initiative; the cost of the building works was borne by the private sector but the running of the facility is the subject of a separate contract. It would not be right to divulge the capital cost of the building, or the terms of the operating contract, as this information is commercially sensitive.
Mr. Henderson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual savings from the operation of the contract by Wackenhut at Tinsley house immigration detention centre. [31211]
Mr. Kirkhope:
Tinsley house is a new facility providing 150 additional detention places. The extra places will enable us to reduce the use of more expensive, less suitable, alternative accommodation and to effect the removal of more people with no entitlement to remain in this country. It is not possible to quantify the overall resultant savings to the public purse but I am satisfied that the contract with Wackenhut to run Tinsley house provides very good value for money.
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Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met representatives of the civil service trade unions; and what subjects were discussed. [29928]
Mr. Freeman:
I last met representatives of the civil service unions on 29 January where many issues relating to the civil service were discussed.
Mr. Terry Davis:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many meetings of, or organised by, the Council of Europe since January 1995 have been attended by Ministers or officials of the Office of Public Service; and if he will make a statement. [29366]
Mr. Freeman:
There have been 212 meetings of or organised by the Council of Europe since January 1995 attended by members of staff of the United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. No Ministers or officials in the Office of Public Service have attended these meetings.
Ms Glenda Jackson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will list the make, age and purchase price of each vehicle in the Government car service ministerial fleet; [30387]
Mr. Freeman:
As these are purely operational matters I have asked the chief executive of the Security Facilities Executive to write directly to the hon. Member.
Letter from J. C. King to Ms Glenda Jackson, dated 30 May 1996:
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the
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now withdrawn Civil Service College leaflet advertising courses on devolution this summer; and if he will make a statement. [30693]
Mr. Freeman:
The promotion and scheduling of courses and seminars at the Civil Service College is an operational matter. I have asked the chief executive of the Civil Service College to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from S. H. F. Hickey to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 28 May 1996:
Mr. Bradley:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) for what reasons HMSO has ceased publication of the social fund guide; [31061]
Mr. Freeman:
As these questions concern purely operational matters, I have asked the chief executive of HMSO to write direct to the hon. Member.
(2) what are the terms of the contract concluded by Wackenhut for the operation of Tinsley house immigration detention centre. [31213]
(2) what was the total cost of maintaining and operating the Government car service ministerial fleet, for the years 1992-93 to 1995-96. [30386]
I have been asked by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply direct to your two Parliamentary Questions relating to the Government Car Service (GCS). As Chief Executive of the Security Facilities Executive Agency, I have operational responsibility for the GCS.
The Government Car Service currently purchases motor vehicles from the Ford, Jaguar, Rover and Vauxhall motor companies. I regret that, for security and commercial reasons, details of individual vehicles cannot be made public.
The estimated costs of maintaining and operating the Government Car Service for the years 1992-93 to 1995-96 are as follows:
1992/93: £7.0 million
1993/94: £7.3 million
1994/95: £7.6 million
1995/96: £7.4 million
These costs cover the whole of the Government Car Service, including the Ministerial vehicles.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply to your Question on the Civil Service College's proposed seminar on devolution.
I am arranging for a copy of the full information pack on College seminars and programmes for the Senior Civil Service to be made available for the Library. It includes a proposed single half-day briefing seminar on the work of the non-party Constitution Unit. In order to avoid any risk of misinterpretation, this seminar has been postponed.
(2) if he will list the publications which HMSO has ceased to publish in the last year; for what reasons HMSO has ceased publishing these documents; and what steps will be taken to ensure that copies of these remain available to the public. [31060]
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