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Telephone Tapping

Mr. Alton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records are kept (a) by the Government and (b) by each individual police force concerning authorisations by senior police officers for the interception of telephone calls; how many such authorisations there have been by (i) Merseyside police and (ii) police forces in general in each year since 1984; what safeguards exist to prevent abuse; and how much manpower and cost they involve. [8853]

Mr. Howard: The interception of a communication in the course of its transmission by a public telecommunications system requires a warrant issued by the Secretary of State under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. A decision by a chief constable to monitor calls on a private telephone system operated by the police is not covered by the 1985 Act. Such a decision is an operational matter for the chief constable concerned, who is also responsible for ensuring that monitoring is appropriate in the circumstances and is not misused.

There is no central record of such authorisations by chief constables and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 730

Prison Costs

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average cost of a place in prison during the first six months of the current financial year; [9111]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for these matters 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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:




EstablishmentCost per place
Acklington14,703
Albany19,182
Aldington14,349
Ashwell14,772
Askham Grange18,362
Aylesbury21,884
Bedford22,358
Belmarsh25,570
Birmingham22,769
Blakenhurst17,714
Blantyre House18,257
Blundeston19,526
Brinsford18,703
Bristol25,447
Brixton24,207
Brockhill22,279
Buckley Hall15,631
Bullingdon18,791
Bullwood Hall28,525
Camp Hill17,508
Canterbury33,257
Cardiff23,846
Castington19,207
Channings Wood14,753
Chelmsford34,475
Coldingley23,152
Cookham Wood23,290
Dartmoor19,679
Deerbolt16,521
Doncaster16,309
Dorchester29,042
Dover17,085
Downview17,898
Drake Hall12,909
Durham25,991
East Sutton Park15,986
Eastwood Park26,320
Elmley16,700
Erlestoke18,594
Everthorpe16,396
Exeter33,040
Featherstone17,354
Feltham16,942
Ford10,906
Frankland39,262
Full Sutton33,718
Garth18,944
Gartree22,560
Glen Parva15,480
Glocuester28,509
Grendon18,274
Guys Marsh17,632
Haslar15,152
Hatfield21,906
Havering16,492
Hewell Grange13,955
Highdown18,342
Highpoint14,486
Hindley18,879
Hollesley Bay21,978
Holloway30,986
Holme House17,078
Hull28,502
Huntercombe14,518
Kingston20,718
Kirkham13,581
Kirklevington18,622
Lancaster19,696
Lancaster Farms22,085
Latchmere House12,053
Leeds17,207
Leicester39,640
Lewes19,224
Leyhill16,120
Lincoln24,130
Lindholme17,587
Littlehey14,685
Liverpool17,915
Long Lartin35,143
Low Newton27,049
Maidstone18,051
Manchester20,496
Moorland17,724
Morton Hall12,427
Mount12,704
New Hall26,513
North Sea Camp14,816
Northallerton29,754
Norwich35,505
Nottingham26,462
Onley14,310
Parkhurst28,628
Pentonville17,203
Portland15,634
Preston27,069
Ranby17,181
Reading25,026
Risley16,639
Rochester18,398
Send15,782
Shepton Mallet23,796
Shrewsbury31,858
Stafford22,001
Standford Hill14,824
Stocken16,544
Stoke Heath16,963
Styal22,418
Sudbury15,053
Swaleside17,682
Swansea28,037
Swinfen Hall22,899
Thorn Cross17,017
Usk20,479
Verne15,213
Wakefield23,785
Wandsworth16,300
Wayland13,588
Wealstun Closed15,621
Wellingborough15,900
Werrington20,619
Wetherby28,144
Whatton17,709
Whitemoor34,772
Winchester25,042
Wolds21,960
Woodhill20,618
Wormwood Scrubs17,163
Wymott14,148

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 732

Prison Population

Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the overall (a) average base line certified normal accommodation, (b) average in use CNA and (c) average population for the Prison Service for each month this year; [9108]

Miss Widdecombe: Responsbility for these matters 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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:





January 1996February 1996March 1996April 1996May 1996June 1996July 1996August 1996September 1996October 1996
IN USE CNA
Female--female closed training prisons559559559559559564566566683683
Female--female closed young offender institutions123123123123123123123123123123
Female--local prisons9269281,0071,0071,0071,0071,0051,0051,0051,005
Female--open prisons452452452452452452456456456452
Female--open young offender institutions53535353535353535353
Female--remand centres5555555555
Male--dispersal prisons------3,2973,2973,2973,2973,2973,1093,250
Male--closed training prisons21,06421,02421,29418,85718,85019,29319,29719,33619,09519,191
Male--other young offender institutions (closed)3,9883,9883,9883,9953,9954,1454,1864,1144,1194,116
Male--juvenile institutions1,0881,0881,0881,0881,0881,0881,0321,0321,0321,077
Male--local prisons15,98915,69815,65715,03915,03915,69815,93115,71715,81816,040
Male open prisons3,8163,8223,8223,8223,8463,8343,8843,8843,7913,944
Male--other young offender institutions (open)476476476476476552552552496496
Male remand centres2,9212,9152,9152,9152,9153,0413,0703,0703,0653,065
Total51,46051,13151,43951,68851,70553,15253,45753,21052,85053,500

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 733

January 1996February 1996March 1996April 1996May 1996June 1996July 1996August 1996September 1996October 1996
Population
Female--female closed training prisons549553548550554580610645663667
Female--female closed young offender institutions104111127126134137135141139156
Female--local prisons9959971,0381,0761,0521,0981,0891,0561,0701,113
Female--open prisons355391386396452457461427412446
Female--open young offender institutions22252431293332303338
Female--remand centres0000000000
Male--dispersal prisons3,1733,1653,1423,2823,2783,2873,388
Male--closed training prisons20,08220,33420,74718,29018,41718,55118,68518,46918,57718,705
Male--other young offender institutions (closed)3,7383,8503,8983,9443,9723,9433,9763,9214,0034,045
Male--juvenile institutions1,2221,2891,3081,2951,3651,4171,3831,3671,4321,446
Male--local prisons18,54818,88118,81718,43918,54018,89519,17918,98719,62120,196
Male open prisons3,1863,4813,5833,5543,5763,6503,7493,6393,6773,696
Male--other young offender institutions (open)370377366357369354394389384408
Male remand centres2,7762,8892,8982,9712,8882,9993,1663,1883,3233,460
Total51,94753,17853,74054,20254,51355,25656,14155,53756,62157,764

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 733

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 733

Total baseline CNA, in use CNA and population

Baseline CNAIn use CNAPopulation
January 199654,94951,46051,947
February 199654,97951,13153,178
March 199655,16451,43953,740
April 199651,68851,68854,202
May 199651,70551,70554,513
June 199653,15253,15255,256
July 199653,45753,45756,141
August 199653,21053,21055,537
September 199652,85052,85056,621
October 199656,83553,50057,764

Mr. Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the (a) average base line

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 734

certified normal accommodation, (b) average in use CNA and (c) average population of each prison for the first six months of the current financial year. [9106]

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. George Howarth, dated 18 December 1996:



Baseline CNA

PrisonApril 1996May 1996June 1996July 1996August 1996September 1996
Acklington662662662662662662
Albany436436436436436436
Aldington146146146146146146
Ashwell404404404404404404
Askham Grange126126126130130130
Aylesbury297297297297297297
Bedford309309309309309309
Belmarsh841841841841841841
Birmingham696696696696696717
Blakenhurst649649649647647647
Blantyre House106106106120120120
Blundeston408408408408408408
Brinsford473473473477477477
Bristol493493493493493493
Brixton720720720720720720
Brockhill159159159159159159
Buckley Hall350350350350350350
Bullingdon644644644644644644
Bullwood Hall125125125125125125
Camp Hill470470470470470470
Canterbury184184184184184184
Cardiff327327327534534534
Castington300300300300300300
Channings Wood594594594594594594
Chelmsford248248248248248248
Coldingley296296296296296296
Cookham Wood120120120120120120
Dartmoor599599599599599599
Deerbolt450450450450450450
Doncaster771771771771771771
Dorchester147147147147147147
Dover316316316316316316
Downview287287291291291291
Drake Hall285285285285285285
Durham651651646646646646
East Sutton Park949494949494
Eastwood Park135135135135135135
Elmley637637637637640640
Erlestoke270270270270270270
Everthorpe438438438438438438
Exeter261261261261261260
Featherstone599599599599599599
Feltham876876876876876876
Finnamore Wood1061061061061060
Ford533533533533533533
Frankland447447447447447447
Full Sutton602602602602602602
Garth513513513513513513
Gartree360360360360360360
Glen Parva852852852852852852
Gloucester211211211211211211
Grendon455455455455455455
Guy's Marsh300300300300300300
Haslar158158158158158158
Hatfield180180180180180180
Haverigg454454450450450450
Hewell Grange174174174200200200
High Down649649649649649649
Highpoint679679679679679679
Hindley339339531531531531
Hollesley Bay458458458458458458
Holloway517517517517517517
Holme House649649751751783783
Hull362362404418438438
Huntercombe240240240256256256
Kingston155155155185185185
Kirkham644644644644644644
Kirklevington100100100100100100
Lancaster Farms218218218218218218
Lancaster House378378438438438438
Latchmere177177177177177177
Leeds9959959959959951,141
Leicester207207207207207207
Lewes443443443444444444
Leyhill410410410410410410
Lincoln434434434434434434
Lindholme670670670670670670
Littlehey584584584584584584
Liverpool1,1581,1581,1581,2161,2161,216
Long Lartin446446446446446446
Low Newton198198198198198198
Maidstone539539539539539539
Manchester967967967967967967
Moorland620620620620620620
Morton Hall168192192192192192
Mount588588588588588588
New Hall207207207207207207
North Sea Camp203203213213213213
Northallerton152152152152152152
Norwich319319319319319319
Nottingham218218218218218218
Onley520520520520520520
Oxford1221221221221220
Parkhurst431431431430430430
Pentonville924924924882882882
Portland526526526526526526
Preston407407407407407407
Ranby516516517517517517
Reading183183203203203203
Risley826826826957957957
Rochester424424424424424424
Send151151151151151151
Shepton Mallet158158158158158158
Shrewsbury176176176176176176
Stafford434434434434434434
Standford Hill384384384384384384
Stocken396396396396396396
Stoke Heath372372382382382382
Styal253253255257257257
Sudbury517517517517517424
Swaleside512512512512512512
Swansea208208208208208208
Swinfen Hall191191191191191196
Thorn Cross300300316316316316
Usk246246246246246246
Verne552552552552552552
Wakefield727727727727727715
Wandsworth1,2191,2191,2191,2191,2191,219
Wayland580580580580580580
Wealstun573573573578578578
Wellingborough352352352352352352
Werrington114114114114114114
Wetherby120120120120120120
Whatton217216216216216216
Whitemoor534534534534534534
Winchester462462462462462462
Wolds320320320320320320
Woodhill566566669669669669
Wormwood Scrubs1,1581,1581,1761,1761,1681,168
Wymott816816816816826826

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 737

In use CNA

PrisonApril 1996May 1996June 1996July 1996August 1996September 1996
Acklington662662662662662662
Albany436436436436436436
Aldington146146146146146146
Ashwell404404404404404404
Askham Grange126126126130130130
Aylesbury230230230230230230
Bedford309309309309309309
Belmarsh661661661661661661
Birmingham653653653653653694
Blakenhurst649649649647647647
Blantyre House106106106120120120
Blundeston408408408408408408
Brinsford473473473477477477
Bristol474474474474474474
Brixton480480480480480480
Brockhill159159159159159159
Buckley Hall350350350350350350
Bullingdon644644644644644644
Bullwood Hall125125125125125125
Camp Hill384384384384384384
Canterbury184184184184184184
Cardiff322322322534534534
Castington300300300300300300
Channings Wood594594594594594594
Chelmsford248248248248248248
Coldingley288288288288288288
Cookham Wood120120120120120120
Dartmoor599599599599599599
Deerbolt420420420420420420
Doncaster771771771771771771
Dorchester147147147147147147
Dover316316316316316316
Downview287287291291291291
Drake Hall285285285285285285
Durham499499598598598598
East Sutton Park949494949494
Eastwood Park135135135135135135
Elmley637637637637640640
Erlestoke270270270270270270
Everthorpe435435435435435433
Exeter253253253253253260
Featherstone564564564564564564
Feltham845845845839839839
Finnamore Wood56565656560
Ford498498498498498498
Frankland447447447447447447
Full Sutton572572572572572572
Garth513513513513513513
Gartree350350360360360360
Glen Parva792792792792720720
Gloucester211211211211211211
Grendon455455455455455455
Guy's Marsh300300300300300300
Haslar158158158158158158
Hatfield180180180180180180
Haverigg454454450450450450
Hewell Grange174174174200200200
High Down649649649649649649
Highpoint679679679679679679
Hindley339339531531531531
Hollesley Bay397397397397397397
Holloway517517517517517517
Holme House649649714714764764
Hull349349395395395395
Huntercombe240240240256256256
Kingston106106106129129129
Kirkham644644622622622622
Kirklevington100100100100100100
Lancaster218218218218218218
Lancaster Farms378378438438438438
Latchmere House177177177177177177
Leeds824824824824824872
Leicester207207207207207207
Lewes312312312303303303
Leyhill386386386410410410
Lincoln434434434434434434
Lindholme670670670670670670
Littlehey584584584584584584
Liverpool1,0731,0731,0731,1051,1051,105
Long Lartin372372372372372372
Low Newton198198192192192192
Maidstone484484484539539539
Manchester967967967967967967
Moorland620620620620620620
Morton Hall168192192192192192
Mount588588588588588588
New Hall207207207207207207
North Sea Camp203203213213213213
Northallerton152152152152152152
Norwich319319319319319319
Nottingham218218218218218218
Onley520520520520520520
Oxford1221221221221220
Parkhurst378378378288288288
Pentonville726726726726726726
Portland526526526526526526
Preston311311311311311311
Ranby516516517517517517
Reading183183203203203203
Risley790790790785785785
Rochester424424424424424424
Send137137137137137137
Shepton Mallet158158158158158158
Shrewsbury172172172172176176
Stafford434434434434434434
Standford Hill384384384384384384
Stocken396396396396396396
Stoke Heath312312322322322322
Styal239239241243243243
Sudbury488488488488488395
Swaleside512512512512512512
Swansea151151151151151151
Swinfen Hall191191191191191196
Thorn Cross240240316316316316
Usk246246246246246246
Verne552552552552552552
Wakefield727727727727727539
Wandsworth804804804804804804
Wayland580574547574574574
Wealstun573573573578578578
Wellingborough352352352352352352
Werrington114114114114114114
Wetherby120120120120120120
Whatton217216216216216216
Whitemoor518518518518518518
Winchester462462462462462462
Wolds320320320320320320
Woodhill566566669669669669
Wormwood Scrubs7157151,1291,129948948
Wymott432432799799748748

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 741

Population

PrisonApril 1996May 1996June 1996July 1996August 1996September 1996
Acklington656643644660629642
Albany430421435427430432
Aldington142141141143138139
Ashwell389402395408399412
Askham Grange119121127122124120
Aylesbury229224226229226231
Bedford346327352347339350
Belmarsh588600615774790801
Birmingham9719741,0069949941,007
Blakenhurst619702721697717717
Blantyre House105100113109116119
Blundeston385396404401394399
Brinsford466474469465481491
Bristol521518515536515556
Brixton581601588595580596
Brockhill1521235970106129
Buckley Hall342349343340342350
Bullingdon642641635651632647
Bullwood Hall123122126121120121
Camp Hill402402409422405413
Canterbury285282262286271276
Cardiff477452541630636702
Castington292291287295296288
Channings Wood575582579586573589
Chelmsford402390411404404451
Coldingley283285286282286287
Cookham Wood129130134141148146
Dartmoor585586579574571573
Deerbolt401411410412399415
Doncaster861866896893889924
Dorchester211211226226209229
Dover290310298307306307
Downview284285283282284291
Drake Hall218266268276240235
Durham702726869895871874
East Sutton Park909495959390
Eastwood Park104122121129121122
Elmley600621625620619624
Erlestoke263269270265269269
Everthorpe429418411440448456
Exeter439434464453424453
Featherstone559557549548557549
Feltham835831860853823859
Finnamore Wood800000
Ford440449443479459442
Frankland422417410427427425
Full Sutton560554547553547556
Garth506513510517511518
Gartree350352357362360357
Glen Parva883815863872859878
Gloucester256250246250219250
Grendon416410418410420429
Guy's Marsh298300299297298303
Haslar152151154150146156
Hatfield155175171177163167
Haverigg429443430465453462
Hewell Grange188193191192177184
High Down625645639642624649
Highpoint670665662672632567
Hindley349408440504515536
Hollesley Bay338347347378367388
Holloway580573595590574572
Holme House644679663706706756
Hull399378365407402431
Huntercombe234233235235234252
Kingston99102103103106105
Kirkham601616612615610597
Kirklevington999999999998
Lancaster215216217217203216
Lancaster Farms378360428444446491
Latchmere House153150154140151141
Leeds893878888880879886
Leicester345324345342336344
Lewes297305305309292312
Leyhill381369388386368383
Lincoln648645645651651660
Lindholme641647642654641646
Littlehey563566559573577576
Liverpool1,2411,2681,2501,2491,2101,213
Long Lartin358357357362372374
Low Newton297284277267266267
Maidstone522530523529531528
Manchester1,1001,0811,1161,0991,1211,086
Moorland620622614644642651
Morton Hall164188186184189187
Mount578581577583584600
New Hall220209208212208214
North Sea Camp164149169209193197
Northallerton212208215208216215
Norwich380395393513562608
Nottingham209212214206200201
Onley492516509515515520
Oxford9577715130
Parkhurst276275279282284283
Pentonville850864857863852887
Portland521531516514524515
Preston451431452441442453
Ranby499500512522515522
Reading195196224225230223
Risley749737739743726745
Rochester355356351355359385
Send133136134139144145
Shepton Mallet206205202200203208
Shrewsbury300292306294307311
Stafford585596590600604601
Standford Hill369333379383364367
Stocken399401393415405408
Stoke Heath312311317308316322
Styal245248249249249254
Studbury464487474481451474
Swaleside508516516513509509
Swansea215231219211202224
Swinfen Hall190189191191189195
Thorn Cross220200186239241222
Usk248265256258265259
Verne545538546549543549
Wakefield711703673630601596
Wandsworth861861855877874880
Wayland530559560554554563
Wealstun535541551552554572
Wellingborough314314316317315315
Werrington111115114112113116
Wetherby120114120120120120
Whatton214216216216216222
Whitemoor534534540536541535
Winchester530519542553535552
Wolds333323334346322357
Woodhill605592585596606625
Wormwood Scrubs1,0461,0511,1311,0841,0521,095
Wymott534629735741732737

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 745

18 Dec 1996 : Column: 745


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