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Parliamentary Questions

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many answers to (a) written and (b) oral parliamentary questions have required correction by his Department in each of the past two years. [40634]

Mr. Howard: This is a matter of public record.

Wheel Clamping

Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on proposals to regulate the activities of firms engaging in wheel clamping vehicles on private land. [40442]

Mr. Maclean: My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mrs. Maddock), the Automobile Association, the British Parking Association, and legislation on car clamping.

Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce proposals arising from his consultation on wheel clamping. [40296]

Mr. Maclean: The Government are still considering what action should be taken to regulate wheel clamping on private land. We shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will issue further guidance on the position of female asylum seekers from China who base their claim for asylum on Chinese laws specifying forced abortion, contraception and sterilisation; [41086]

(2) if asylum caseworkers have been instructed to take into account the threat of forcible abortion or sterilisation; [41085]

(3) if asylum caseworkers have now been instructed to take into account forced contraception, with particular reference to the forced insertion of intra-uterine devices. [41084]

Miss Widdecombe: A copy of the guidance which has been issued to asylum caseworkers on applications involving allegations of forcible abortion, sterilisation or genital mutilation has been placed in the Library. Where other forms of physical abuse are alleged, these are considered in the light of the circumstances of each case.

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Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied for asylum were deported from (a) Doncaster prison and (b) The Wolds prison during each month from May to September; and what were the nationalities of those deported; [40869]

(2) how many people who had applied for asylum were detained in (a) Doncaster prison and (b) The Wolds prison during each month from May to September; and what were the nationalities of those detained. [40868]

Mr. Kirkhope: I will write to the hon. Member.

Consultants

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1992, in 1996 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in. [41180]

Mr. Howard: I will write to the hon. Member.

Buckley Hall Prison

Mr. Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the current full complement by grade of (a) part-time and (b) full-time staff, employed by Group 4 at HMP Buckley Hall; and what changes to staffing levels have occurred in the last three months; [40980]

(2) what percentage of temporary release decisions have resulted in temporary release failures at (a) HMP Buckley Hall and (b) other male category C training prisons since (i) 9 July 1996 and (ii) 14 December 1994; [40976]

(3) if he will specify (a) what injuries were sustained by the prisoner Keith Tierney following his assault by another prisoner at HMP Buckley Hall in August, (b) what level of medical treatment was received by Keith Tierney following the assault, (c) how soon after the assault Keith Tierney's family were informed of his injuries, (d) what knowledge HMP Buckley Hall had at the time of this assault of assaults already received by Keith Tierney at other prisons, (e) what measures had been adopted at HMP Buckley Hall at the time of the assault and to minimise the risk of assault for Keith Tierney; [40982]

(4) if he will list the number and types of incidents reported to the Prison Service in relation to Buckley Hall since (a) 12 June 1996 and (b) 14 December 1994; [40974]

(5) what is the current staffing ratio for non-health staff to prisoners at (a) HMP Buckley Hall and (b) other male category C training prisons; [40978]

(6) if he will list the representatives of (a) overseas Governments and (b) ministries of justice that have visited HMP Buckley Hall since 14 December 1994; and on what dates the visits occurred. [40977]

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(7) how many serious assaults have occurred on prisoners in HMP Buckley Hall since 14 December 1994; [40975]

(8) how many serious assaults have occurred on staff in HMP Buckley Hall since 16 July 1995; and what is the total number of assaults on staff that have occurred at the prison since 14 December 1994. [40979]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for replies to be given.

Letter from Hugh Taylor to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 16 October 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about Buckley Hall prison.
The information requested is not immediately available and the Director General will write to you in full as soon as possible.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason Recruitment and Assessment Services was asked to delay the processing of applicants for appointments to the board of the Criminal Cases Review Commission; on what date it was given clearance to proceed; and if he will make a statement. [41060]

Mr. Kirkhope: Recruitment and Assessment Services was not asked to delay the processing of applicants for the posts of members of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. It was unable to inform applicants about the outcome of their applications until all the applications had been considered and sifted. This process took longer than anticipated due to the large number of applications received. Preliminary interviews for the posts began on 3 September; the final interviews will be held during the next few weeks.

Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current budget for the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and how much has so far been spent. [41059]

Mr. Kirkhope: The provisional budget for setting up and operating the Criminal Cases Review Commission in 1996--97 is £5 million. Up to 30 September, £104,000 had been spent, although much more has been committed in terms of accommodation and equipment for the commission.

Ms. Sandra Gregory

Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision exists to enable Ms Sandra Gregory, currently serving a 22--year sentence in Klong Prem womens' prison, Bangkok, to serve the rest of her sentence in a British prison. [40936]

Miss Widdecombe: I will write to the hon Member.

Doncaster Prison

Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to place a safety net in the open space between the first floor landing and

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the ground floor at Doncaster prison to prevent (a) self-harm by prisoners and (b) harm to prison staff by prisoners; and if he will make a statement; [40864]

(2) how many prisoners and from which of Her Majesty's prison establishments worked at Goodwood racecourse during its July meetings; how they were selected; if they were recompensed for the work; what was the total cost of the service; what proportion of this was borne by (a) the racecourse executive and (b) from public funds; and if he will make a statement; [40866]

(3) what is the (a) current number and (b) percentage of the current prison population at HMP Doncaster who have been imprisoned for (i) rape, (ii) murder, (iii) armed robbery, (iv) manslaughter and (v) arson; and what were the equivalent figures for 12 months ago; [40853]

(4) how may prisoners and from which of Her Majesty's prison establishments have worked at Doncaster racecourse during the last 12 months; how they were selected; if they were recompensed for the work; what was the total cost of the service; what proportion of this was borne by (a) the racecourse executive and (b) from public funds; and if he will make a statement; [40867]

(5) which trade unions are recognised by Premier Prison Services at Her Majesty's prison, Doncaster; and in respect of which issues the company is prepared to consult and negotiate with each trade union. [40854]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for replies to be given.

Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 16 October 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about Doncaster prison and prisoners working at Goodwood.

The information requested is not immediately available and the Director General will write to you in full as soon as possible.

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