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Burma
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to discuss with British companies the problems associated with investment in Burma. [14003]
Mr. Hanley: Through our officials in London and our embassy in Rangoon we regularly brief UK companies considering investment in Burma on the political and economic factors which may affect their decision.
Satellites
Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those satellites controlled by Her Majesty's Government indicating their owners. [13154]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I have been asked to reply.
The following satellites are controlled and owned by the UK Ministry of Defence:
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 544
The following are controlled by the UK Ministry of Defence but owned by NATO:
SKYNET 4A
SKYNET 4B
SKYNET 4C.
The Ministry of Defence also owns two small space technology research satellites--STRV-1a and STRV-1b. These were launched in June 1994 but following successful mission completion they were transferred to the university of Colorado in 1996. They remain the property of MOD.
NATO IVA
NATO IVB.
Crime Reduction Measures
Sir Ivan Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been introduced since 1992 to reduce crime; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. [13513]
Mr. Maclean: Since 1992, we have continued to develop and implement measures designed to make life more difficult for criminals and easier for law abiding citizens. This has involved major new legislation; substantial changes in the criminal justice system, including the creation of new offences and the revision of penalties so as to ensure that the courts have the powers they need to deal with criminal behaviour; new money for the police and for closed circuit television; the development of new ideas on crime prevention; and the targeting of persistent offenders.
We are determined to fight crime effectively and, with full backing for the police, the support of the community, proper emphasis on crime prevention and severe punishment for serious persistent and dangerous offenders, we have demonstrated that progress can be made. Through partnership initiatives to combat crime and the steadfast work of the police, we have seen recorded crime fall by 10 per cent.--a reduction of over half a million offences--for the last three years for which figures are available.
Crime and Detection Statistics
Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each metropolitan city in 1994-95 and 1995-96 (a) the crime figures and (b) the detection rate by category of crime. [13300]
Mr. Maclean: The table gives the available information for the City of London as a whole, which comprises the Metropolitan police and the City of London police force areas. Information for other cities is not available since the statistics collected centrally on recorded crime are broken down only as far as police force area.
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 543
| Offence group | Number of offences | Percentage cleared up(3) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1994 | 1995 | |
| Violence against the person | 42,770 | 40,365 | 69 | 65 |
| Sexual offences | 6,815 | 6,121 | 65 | 58 |
| Burglary | 162,146 | 170,916 | 20 | 22 |
| Robbery | 26,175 | 30,166 | 14 | 18 |
| Theft and handling stolen goods | 392,942 | 390,165 | 16 | 18 |
| Fraud and forgery | 31,907 | 34,474 | 45 | 46 |
| Criminal damage | 157,763 | 146,679 | 16 | 31 |
| Other offences | 8,622 | 9,320 | 90 | 87 |
| Total | 829,140 | 828,206 | 22 | 25 |
(2) Excluding criminal damage value £20 and under.
(3) Published on a calendar year only.
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 543
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 545
Telephone Taps
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the investigation into transcripts of telephone taps missing from the National Criminal Intelligence Service; and how many transcripts are unaccounted for. [13405]
Mr. Maclean: The Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service invited John Stevens, formerly the chief constable of Northumbria police, to conduct an inquiry following a case in which telephone intercept material was supplied unlawfully to defence counsel. He also looked at administrative processes for handling intercept material and future safeguards. The inquiry found no evidence of corrupt practice at NCIS and all the intercept material has been accounted for. The director general has welcomed the inquiry's review of procedures for handling intercept material and all its recommendations are being taken forward.
North-east Regional Crime Squad
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the role of the north-east regional crime squad in the cases of R v. Beriman and R v. Charrington and others; and what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement. [13585]
Mr. Maclean: I have received representations from hon. Members in the case of R v. Charrington but not in the case of R v. Berriman. I have taken no action in either case: the issues raised are within the responsibility of the chief constables of the forces concerned.
Prison Governors
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given by the Prison Service to people recruited to fill governor grade positions. [13898]
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.
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 546
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 4 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the training given to those recruited to governor grades.
On promotion to Governor 5 from Principal Officer it is mandatory for all newly promoted governor 5s to attend a two week New Governor 5 course, which deals with general prison management issues and a one week Incident Command course. They attend further courses which help them deal specifically with the demands of their post.
The Prison Service also recruits individuals onto the Accelerated Promotion Scheme (APS). Those selected for the APS, who are not already serving prison officers, undergo mandatory Prison Officer initial training to enable them to serve as prison officers for one year. They then undertake management training in the form of a seven week Principal Officer course which deals with prison procedures and introduces management training. APS students attend a one week course which gives a non-operational overview of the Prison Service and a one week course on the operational responsibilities of a governor 5. They attend the Incident Command course and a series of developmental workshops as well as role specific training.
In addition the Prison Service is piloting a cross hierarchical move scheme in which experienced individuals have been appointed to governor grades. These individuals have received specific training to meet their individual needs to perform in the governor grades.
Prison Suicides
Mr. George Howard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the rate of self-inflicted deaths which have occurred in (a) each prison, (b) each prison type and (c) the prison estate for each year since 1990. [13821]
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 4 February 1997:
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 545
(4) 1997 total up to 30 January 1997.
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 547
Several establishments have changed their roles during the time period specified.
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 549
4 Feb 1997 : Column: 549
(5) 1997 total up to 30 January 1997.
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your question about the rate of self-inflicted deaths in prisons.
The attached tables show the numbers of self-inflicted deaths that have occurred in each prison; in each type of prison, and totals for the prison estate for each year since 1990. It is not possible to display the information as a rate without incurring disproportionate costs.
Establishment Type 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Acklington Category C 1 1
Albany Category B 1
Ashwell Category C 2
Aylesbury Young offender institute 1 1
Bedford Male local 2 1 2
Belmarsh Male local 1 2
Birmingham Male local 1 3 1 1 2 1
Blakenhurst Male local 1 2
Blundeston Category B 2
Brinsford Male remand centre 1 1 1
Bristol Male local 3 1 1 2 1 1
Brixton Male local 6 1 1 1 3 1
Buckley Hall Category C 1
Bullingdon Male local 1 1 1
Camp Hill Category C 1
Canterbury Male local 1
Cardiff Male local 2 2
Chelmsford Male local 1 1 1
Dartmoor Category B 1 1 1 2
Deerbolt Young offender institution 1
Doncaster Male local 2 2 1
Dorchester Male local 1 1 2
Dover Young offender institution 1
Downview Category C 1
Durham Male local 3 1 2 1 1
Elmley Male local 1 1
Erlestoke Category C 2
Exeter Male local 4 1 2 1
Featherstone Category C 1 1
Feltham Male remand centre 2 2 1
Frankland Dispersal 1
Full Sutton Dispersal 2 1 1 1
Garth Category B 1 1 1
Gartree Category B 1 1 1
Glen Parva Young offender institution 1 1 1 2 1
Gloucester Male local 1 1
Grendon Category B 1 2 2 1
Haverigg Category C 1 1
Highdown Male local 1 1 4 2
Highpoint Category C 1
Hindley Male remand centre 3 1 1 1
Holloway Female local 1 1 2 1
Holme House Male local 2 1
Hull Male local 1 2 1 2 1 2
Kirkham Male open 1
Leeds Male local 1 2 2 2 1 1 1
Leicester Male local 1 3 3 1 1
Lewes Male local 2 1 1 1 1
Lincoln Male local 1 3 1 2 2
Lindholme Category C 1 1
Littlehey Category C 1
Liverpool Male local 4 3 1 2 5 1 3
Long Lartin Dispersal 1 1 1 1 1 2
Low Newton Male remand centre 2 2
Maidstone Category B 1 1
Manchester Male local 3 2 2 2 4
Moorland Category C 3
The Mount Category C 1 1 1
New Hall Female local 1
Norwich Male local 2 2 2 4 1
Nottingham Category B 1 1 1 1
Oxford Category C 1 1
Parkhurst Category B 1 1 1 1 2 1
Pentonville Male local 2 1 4 2 2
Portland Young offender inst. 1 1 1
Preston Male local 1 1 1 2
Risley Category C 1 1 1
Rochester Male local 1
Shepton Mallet Category C 1
Shrewsbury Male local 1 1
Stafford Category C 1 1
Stocken Category C 1
Stoke Health Young offender institution 1 1
Styal Female closed 1
Swaleside Category B 1 1
Swansea Male local 2 1 1
Swinfen Hall Young offender institution 2 1
Usk Category C 1
The Verne Category C 1 1
Wakefield Dispersal 2 1 1 3 1 1
Wandsworth Male local 1 1 2 4 1
Wellingborough Category C 1
Wetherby Young offender institution 1
Whatton Category C 1
Whitemoor Dispersal 1
Winchester Male local 2 1 1 1 2
Wolds Male local 1 1 1
Woodhill Male local 1 1
Wormwood Scrubs Male local 1 1 1 4 1
PECS (prison escort court custody service) n/a 1
Totals 50 42 41 47 62 60 64 (4)6
Type of establishment 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Male local 35 24 22 34 40 35 41 --
Dispersal 2 4 2 5 2 5 3 --
Male remand centre 3 2 4 1 3 2 2 1
Category B 3 5 4 3 10 5 5 1
Category C 5 5 5 2 5 8 5 1
Female local -- -- 1 1 1 2 1 --
Young offenders institution 2 2 2 1 1 3 5 3
Male open -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --
Female closed -- -- 1 -- -- -- -- --
PECS. (Prison escort court custody service) -- -- -- -- -- -- 1 --
Mr. Cousins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicides occurred in Her Majesty's prisons in the last three complete years and in the half year to October 1996; and if he will express these figures as a rate per head of the population. [11615]
Totals
1990 50
1991 42
1992 41
1993 47
1994 62
1995 60
1996 64
1997(5) 6
Miss Widdecombe [holding answer 21 January 1997]: 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.
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