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Information Technology (Euro)

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what tenders his Department has put out to convert its information technology systems to be euro compliant; what are the cost and person hours required to convert the systems to handle the euro; and when he expects his Department's systems to be fully economic and monetary union compliant. [9451]

Mr. Howard: My Department and agencies will need to assess the impact which a single currency, assumed

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to be starting on 1 January 1999, would have on their information systems, whether or not the United Kingdom decides to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union.

Pregnant Prisoners

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what medical provision and supervision is available to pregnant category A women in Holloway prison. [9274]

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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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 18 December 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question on medical provision and supervision available to pregnant category A women in Holloway prison.


Prisoners (Drug Dependency)

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rights prisoners detained in England and Wales have to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependent prisoners. [9164]

Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 16 December 1996]: 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to respond to your recent Question about the rights of prisoners, detained in England and Wales prisons, to secure a second medical opinion and appropriate treatment, with particular reference to drug dependant prisoners.














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Prisons (Strip Cells)

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many strip cells are currently in use in prisons in England and Wales. [9165]

Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 16 December 1996]: 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:



Prison Medical Service

Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison medical officers are currently in post in prisons in England and Wales; how many posts are currently vacant; and what were the equivalent figures in each of the last five years. [9168]

Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 16 December 1996]: 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Max Madden, dated 18 December 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of medical officers currently in post in prisons in England and Wales; the number of posts currently vacant; and the equivalent figures in each of the last five years.



Doctors employed in the Prison Service: 1994-95 and 1995-96

Full time doctors Part time doctors
YearMedical officerSenior medical officerTotalMedical officerSenior medical officerTotal
1994-9596491451360136
1995-96914213389392

The figures include doctors employed in privately managed prisons except Blakenhurst which did not submit any staffing information.


Prisoners (Damages Claims)

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of successful claims for damages by, and the amount of compensation that has been given to, prisoners who have sued the Home Office for being kept in prison too long, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9501]

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Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 17 December 1996]: 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Archy Kirkwood, dated 18 December 1996:








Ms Alison Halford

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public money (a) has been spent and (b) he estimates will be spent in respect of proceedings concerning Ms Alison Halford before (i) the Merseyside police authority, (ii) the industrial tribunal, (iii) the European Commission and (iv) the European Court of Human Rights, distinguishing in each case (1) solicitors' fees, (2) barristers' fees, (3) the cost of the time of other public officials and (4) the costs of the courts and tribunals in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [8862]

Mr. Howard: Part of the information requested is not available, and the rest is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.


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