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Crime Statistics
14. Sir Fergus Montgomery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces experienced a fall in their recorded crime figures in (a) 1995 and (b) the 12 months to June 1996. [15295]
Mr. Maclean: For both periods, the majority of police forces recorded falls in crime. In the 12 months to June 1996, 24 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales recorded decreases. For 1995, 35 forces recorded decreases.
Prisoners (Handcuffing)
15. Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the guidelines issued to the Prison Service concerning the handcuffing of prisoners receiving hospital or hospice treatment. [15296]
Miss Widdecombe: On 18 January 1996, my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary made a statement to the House setting out policy on the handcuffing of prisoners receiving medical or antenatal treatment or giving birth outside the prison. The following day, the director of security and programmes issued an internal instruction announcing the new arrangements.
The Prison Service has now issued further internal instructions giving more detailed guidance. These form part of the "Manual on Security", copies of which are held in the Library.
Warwickshire Fire and Civil Defence Authority
16. Mr. Olner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received concerning Warwickshire fire and civil defence authority. [15297]
Mr. Sackville: Representations have been received from one hon. Member about fire service funding. In addition, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State with responsibility for the fire service, met a deputation in November to discuss the fire standard spending assessment distributional formula.
Drug Trafficking and Dealing
19. Mr. Rathbone:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last discussed with the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service further initiatives to counter illegal drug trafficking and dealing. [15300]
20 Feb 1997 : Column: 738
Mr. Maclean:
My right hon. and learned Friend has not had such discussions recently with the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service. However, the director general and his staff have regular contacts with Ministers and officials on a wide range of issues concerning serious and organised crime.
20. Mr. Gerrard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers are currently detained in prisons and in detention centres. [15301]
Mr. Kirkhope:
As at 31 January 1997, there were a total of 768 persons whose detention resulted solely from powers conferred by schedules 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 and who had sought asylum at some stage.
22. Mrs. Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the use of mobile phones in police investigations. [15303]
Mr. Maclean:
I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary's reply of 12 February, Official Report, columns 215-16.
23. Mr. Garnier:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assistance his Department provides to the families of members of religious cults. [15305]
Mr. Sackville:
The Department provides advice about the legal position and about other sources of help, including organisations which offer information and counselling.
24. Mr. Berry:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proportion of recorded crime that resulted in prosecutions in (a) 1979 and (b) the latest period for which figures are available. [15306]
Mr. Maclean:
The latest information relates to 1995 and indicates that 10 per cent. of recorded offences against individuals and their property resulted in a prosecution. Information for 1979 is not available in the form requested and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Pope:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that every prison has a suitable emergency procedure to follow in the event of a breach of security by prisoners. [15299]
Miss Widdecombe:
Every prison establishment is required to have and maintain contingency plans for incidents that may occur within it, including breaches of security by prisoners.
20 Feb 1997 : Column: 739
Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seizures of (a) soft drugs and (b) hard drugs have been made from private dwellings in each of the past three years; what was the estimated street value of the seizures in each case; and if he will make a statement. [15461]
Mr. Maclean:
No distinction is made between "soft" and "hard" drugs in drugs seizure statistics. National statistics on drug seizures are produced on the basis of class and type of drug. Seizure figures for each class for 1993, 1994 and 1995 are as follows:
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | 12,102 | 13,876 | 17,344 |
| Class B | 77,068 | 95,997 | 101,445 |
| Class C | 1,129 | 1,627 | 1,867 |
Figures for 1996 are not yet available.
Information relating to the place where drugs have been seized has not been collected at a national level since 1992. The street values of drugs seized are also not collected. Although they provide a useful operational tool for police officers, they are too subjective and liable to fluctuation to be included in national statistics.
Holocaust Denial
Mr. Dykes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his response to recent proposals for legislation to make holocaust denial an offence. [15466]
Mr. Kirkhope: The Government's position on holocaust denial is well known and we have no plans to change it.
Prison Inspectorate Reports
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 554, if he will publish a list showing which prison each of 25 reports awaiting publication refer to; and how long each report has been awaiting publication. [14862]
Miss Widdecombe: The 25 establishments for which, at 4 February, an inspection report had been received from Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons but had not yet been published, and the date on which the report was received from the inspectorate by my right hon. and learned Friend, is set out in the table:
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The reports of the inspections of Portland and Hatfield were published on 13 February and 17 February respectively and those of four establishments, Guys Marsh, Holloway, Low Newton and Risley, will be published on 21 February.
The reports of the inspections of the following 10 establishments are expected to be published during February and March: Channings Wood, Dartmoor, Dover, Featherstone, Gloucester, Lancaster Castle, Onley, Ranby, The Verne and Wormwood Scrubs.
The remaining nine reports are under consideration. They will be published as soon as possible, but action in response to the recommendations made in an inspection report does not wait until publication of the report.
Mr. George Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount of time prisoners spent unlocked (a) for each prison, (b) for each prison type and (c) for the whole Prison Service, (i) for each month since January 1996 and (ii) for each year since 1989-90. [15976]
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.
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