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Police (Sponsorship)
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the amount of sponsorship received by each police force from companies in the private sector. [9851]
Mr. Michael: This information is not collected centrally. I understand that the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Police Authorities have estimated that police forces in England and Wales could receive up to £30 million in 1997-98 in agreements involving gifts, loans and sponsorship. Some information on the value of police authority sponsorship agreements can be found in "Police Statistics 1994-95 and 1995-96 Actuals" and "Police Statistics 1996-97 Estimates" published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are in the Library.
Inquests
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the inquest system, with special reference to major disasters in respect of which public inquiries are held; and if he will make a statement. [10140]
Mr. George Howarth: The report of the disasters and inquests working group, published in March, recommended legislation to relieve coroners of the need to resume their inquest after the public inquiry had been completed, and invited comments. There is no current legislative opportunity to give effect to the recommendations, but the position is kept under review.
Sex Offenders
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have completed the sex offender treatment programme to date; and how many are currently on such courses. [10097]
Ms Quin: A total of 2,247 prisoners had completed the sex offender treatment programme by 31 March 1997.
The number of prisoners on the programme at any one time during the course of a year could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Prison Service has planned for a further 742 prisoners to have completed
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accredited versions of the programme by 31 March 1998. By this date, an additional 42 prisoners will have completed a version of the programme which it is hoped will be accredited later in the year.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 161, on postal votes before the last general election, what was the amount spent on (a) television and (b) newspaper advertisements; and what measures were taken to inform blind and partially sighted people of the availability of postal votes. [9163]
Mr. George Howarth:
(a) £305,000 and (b) £395,000. Advice on absent voting provisions for blind and partially sighted electors at the general election were provided to the editors of talking newspaper services through the offices of the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 161, on postal votes before the last general election, for what reasons his Department did not use radio advertisements. [9162]
Mr. Howarth:
The publicity campaign about absent voting on television and in the newspapers was considered to be the most cost-effective way to reach as large an audience as possible within the period available after the general election was announced for applications to be made. Because there are so many very different radio stations, it would not have been possible to achieve such wide coverage through radio advertisements. The Government monitor the effectiveness of their advertising and we are of course prepared to consider using a different medium if that would be more suitable.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles are in the preventive detention. [9267]
Ms Quin:
On 18 July, the number of juveniles 1 held in Prison Service establishments was:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Sentenced juveniles | 1,816 |
| Remanded juveniles | 263 |
| Total | 2,079 |
(14) The term juvenile is defined by the 1991 Criminal Justice Act as remanded 15 and 16-year-olds and sentenced 15 to 17-year-olds. Unsentenced 17-year-olds are classed as young male remands.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of juveniles in detention are accommodated in individual cells; [9271]
- (2) in what circumstances (a) juveniles in detention may be detained in the same cell as adults, (b) juveniles on remand may share the same cell as sentenced juveniles, (c) juvenile first offenders may share the same cell with persistent offenders and (d) juvenile females may share the same cell with male prisoners. [9287]
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Ms Quin: Information is not held centrally on the number of juveniles accommodated in individual cells and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
- (a) Governors may exceptionally allow the sharing of a cell by a male juvenile and an adult male prisoner in circumstances where it would be reasonable and practicable to permit this, for example where a son and a father or brothers are in custody in the same establishment and wish to be accommodated together. This must be in the interests of the young prisoner. Selected adult female prisoners can be located in accommodation designated for convicted young female prisoners.
- (b) In accordance with prison rule 3(2), unconvicted prisoners may not be required under any circumstances to share a cell with a convicted prisoner.
- (c) Subject to the need to maintain good order and discipline and to safeguard the interests of the individuals concerned, there is no restriction on juvenile first offenders sharing a cell with persistent offenders.
- (d) In accordance with prison rule 9(1), women prisoners are kept entirely separate from male prisoners.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits juveniles in detention may receive each week. [9275]
Ms Quin: The statutory entitlement to visits by juveniles, which is the same as that for adult prisoners and young offenders, is set out in the young offender institution rules and standing order 5, copies of which are in the Library. In accordance with these, all convicted prisoners, including juveniles, are entitled to at least one visit after reception on conviction and every two weeks thereafter. Unconvicted prisoners, again including juveniles, are entitled to visits lasting at least one and a half hours each week but, where circumstances permit, governors should allow more. In addition to this, governors have discretion to allow special visits and prisoners may earn additional visits under the incentives and earned privileges scheme.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of prison staff to children in detention. [9306]
Ms Quin: The majority of juveniles are held in establishments which also hold young offenders and/or adult prisoners. Therefore, it is not possible to say what the ratio of prison staff to juveniles is. The staff to prisoner ratio for all Prison Service establishments at 30 June 1997 was 1: 1.51.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints have been made alleging ill-treatment of juveniles in detention; and if he will make a statement on the outcomes of these complaints; [9281]
- (2) what representations he has received from outside bodies in the last year in respect of the treatment of juveniles in detention. [9343]
Ms Quin:
The Prison Service has received no representations from outside bodies in the last year on the treatment of juveniles whilst they are in detention. However, representations have been received from a range of organisations and agencies on the implementation of the provisions in the Criminal Justice Act 1991 for court-ordered secure remands and ending prison remands for juveniles. The Government remain committed to ending prison remands for 15 and
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16-year-old boys as quickly as possible and hope that the planned review of secure accommodation will help in this regard.
Separate records of the total number of complaints made on behalf of juveniles, including those made by third parties, are not held centrally. Individual establishments, however, keep records of formal complaints made by juvenile prisoners, and the Director General of the Prison Service will write to my hon. Friend with details of the number of complaints received.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the different prison regimes for juveniles; [9265]
(3) what social and educational assistance is provided for juveniles in detention. [9276]
Ms Quin:
The nature of a prison regime for juveniles is for the governor to determine, within young offender institution rules, budget and on advice from his management team. The area manager must approve the regime for each establishment. This produces regimes which reflect local needs and recognise the specific needs of juvenile prisoners.
The work available for juveniles varies between establishments. Subject to limitations through legal restrictions on the operation of certain machinery by juveniles, and the requirement that young offenders under the age of 17 must undertake 15 hours per week compulsory education, the work is the same as provided for adult offenders.
Juveniles may be required to work as part of a balanced regime of education, training and work designed to assist them to acquire or develop personal responsibility, self-discipline, physical fitness, interests and skills and to obtain suitable employment after release. Where possible, they are given a choice of work.
The young offender institution consolidated rules 1996 require that prisoners aged less than 17 be provided with at least 15 hours a week of education or training. The education provided is focused on remedial eduation in basic skills, combined with a wider variety of experience and training to equip young offenders to deal more effectively with life after imprisonment.
Education provision for those under 17 years of age is linked to the national curriculum for schools in so far as facilities allow.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the minimum age for the detention of juveniles. [9269]
Mr. Michael:
The following custodial sentences are currently available to the courts for convicted juveniles: from the age of 10, detention during Her Majesty's pleasure for murder under section 53(1) of the Children
23 Jul 1997 : Column: 649
and Young Persons Act 1933; and detention, up to the adult maximum, under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 for grave crimes including those which are punishable in the case of an adult by 14 years' imprisonment or more. For juveniles aged 15 to 17, detention in a young offender institution for a maximum of two years is available for any offence for which an adult may be sentenced to imprisonment.
Our aim is to provide the courts with a more coherent and flexible set of custodial powers than those left by the previous Government. In the meantime, we will press ahead with introducing the secure training order provided for in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, to deal with 12 to 14-year-old persistent offenders who have not responded to punishment in the community. My right. hon. Friend announced on 3 July that he has commissioned a review of the secure accommodation currently available for young offenders and the youth justice task force will be advising Ministers on this issue. When the secure training order is implemented, the courts will have the following powers to impose custodial sentences:
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Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances juveniles in detention (a) have free access to drinking water and (b) are able to shave themselves each day. [9273]
Ms Quin:
Most juveniles in detention have a tap with drinkable water in their cell. Where the cell does not have integral sanitation, individuals will have access to drinking water outside the cell; or if they are confined to their cell during the day they will be provided with a jug of water.
The young offender institution rules (21. (3)) state that male juveniles in detention may be required by the governor to shave or be shaved for neatness or, as directed by the medical officer, for health or cleanliness. The circumstances will vary according to the inmate: those needing to shave and who are not considered a suicide risk may keep their own razors, and are encouraged to shave each day; where a juvenile is considered a suicide risk the razor is issued temporarily for shaving under supervision.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many institutions hold juvenile detainees; and if he will list these indicating their type and the number of juveniles admitted to each in the last year for which figures are available. [9264]
Ms Quin:
Provisional information for 1996 is given in the table.
23 Jul 1997 : Column: 649
(2) what types of prison work are (a) available and (b) compulsory for juveniles in detention; [9277]
10 to 17
detention during Her Majesty's pleasure for murder (section 53(1) Children and Young Persons Act 1993):
10 and 11-years-olds
section 53(2) custody, up to the adult maximum, for grave offences;
12, 13 and 14-year-olds
section 53(2) custody, up to the adult maximum for grave offences, and the secure training order (STO) for up to two years, for less serious but persistent offending;
15, 16 and 17-year-olds
section 53(2) custody, up to the adult maximum for grave offences, and detention of up to two years in a young offender institution for any other impressionable offence.
(15) Provisional figures.
(16) Total receptions cannot be calculated by adding together receptions in each category because there is double counting.
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Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children currently accompany mothers in detention. [9268]
Ms Quin: On 16 July 1997, 52 women had their children with them in the four mother and baby units in the female prison estate.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of malnutrition have been recorded in respect of juveniles in detention in the last year. [9272]
23 Jul 1997 : Column: 654
Ms Quin:
Information on malnutrition in prisoners is not recorded centrally. All new receptions to Prison Service establishments, including juveniles, are screened by a medical officer. Any cases of malnutrition would be noted and followed up as appropriate.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each incident where juveniles have been detained for reasons other than suspicion or guilt of criminal offences in the last five years. [9280]
Ms Quin:
Information for 1992 to 1996 is contained in the table. A list of each incident cannot be disclosed for reasons of confidentiality.
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| Reason for detention | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Awaiting deportation | Other immigration offence | Contempt of court | Total |
| 1992 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1993 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 13 |
| 1994 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 14 |
| 1995 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 13 |
| 1996 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 12 |
(17) Aged 15-17.
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Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of prostitution have been recorded among juveniles in detention in the past year. [9278]
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) protest movements, (b) mutinies or rebellions, (c) hunger strikes, (d) self-mutilation, (e) suicide and (f) prison escapes or attempted escapes affecting (i) male and (ii) female juveniles in detention have been recorded in the past year.[9284]
Ms Quin: The information is not available exactly in the form requested.
| Type of incident | Number of incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| Male juveniles | Female juveniles | |
| Concerted indiscipline(18) | 4 | 3 |
| Food refusal | 0 | 0 |
| Attempted suicide(19) | 54 | 6 |
| Suicide | 2 | 0 |
| Attempted escape | 10 | 2 |
| Escape | 2 | 0 |
(18) For reporting purposes, the Prison Service does nto separately define protest movements and mutinies or rebellions. Any incident where two or more prisoners refuse to comply with a direct order is reported as concerted indiscipline.
(19) All instances of "self mutilation" are incorporated in the total number of attempted suicide incidents.
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Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths of juveniles in detention have been recorded in the last year; what method of inquiry was instigated into the deaths; and what were the causes of the deaths. [9282]
Ms Quin: In the last year, there were two self-inflicted deaths of juveniles by hanging in Prison Service establishments. Each death was investigated by the coroner and an inquest held. The Prison Service also conducts an internal investigation into every death in custody.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the inspection and supervision systems for juvenile institutions. [9266]
Ms Quin: Young offender institutions and local prisons containing juveniles are inspected by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales with the same frequency as all other prisons. All reports are published.
Her Majesty's chief inspector has included inspectors from the inspectorate of probation services, the inspectorate of social service and the Office for Standards in Education on occasions, to take advantage of their particular knowledge of juveniles.
The supervision of juveniles in prison is the responsibility of the Prison Service.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles are detained in each institution by (a) age and (b) gender. [9270]
Ms Quin:
Provisional information for 31 May is given in the table.
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| All ages | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | Total | Remand | Sentenced | Fine default | Civil |
| Aylesbury | 61 | 0 | 61 | 0 | 0 |
| Brinsford | 122 | 82 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| Brockhill | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cardiff | 30 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Castington | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelmsford | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deerbolt | 114 | 6 | 108 | 0 | 0 |
| Doncaster | 147 | 88 | 59 | 0 | 0 |
| Dorchester | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dover | 41 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 |
| Exeter | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feltham | 356 | 139 | 217 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Parva | 249 | 136 | 113 | 0 | 0 |
| Gloucester | 28 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Hindley | 135 | 67 | 68 | 0 | 0 |
| Hollesley Bay | 43 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Hull | 22 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Huntercombe/Finnamore Wood | 56 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 0 |
| Lancaster Farms | 70 | 29 | 41 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewes | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Low Newton | 39 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Moorland | 26 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Northallerton | 39 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Norwich | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Onley | 105 | 0 | 105 | 0 | 0 |
| Portland | 154 | 2 | 152 | 0 | 0 |
| Reading | 28 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Rochester | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Stoke Heath | 107 | 0 | 107 | 0 | 0 |
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| Aged 16 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | Total | Remand | Sentenced | Fine default | Civil |
| Aylesbury | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Brinsford | 34 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Brockhill | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cardiff | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Castington | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelmsford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deerbolt | 43 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 0 |
| Doncaster | 30 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Dorchester | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exeter | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feltham | 125 | 52 | 73 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Parva | 49 | 29 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Gloucester | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hindley | 36 | 16 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Hollesley Bay | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Hull | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Huntercombe/Finnamore Wood | 22 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Lancaster Farms | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Low Newton | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Moorland | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Northallerton | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Norwich | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Onley | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Portland | 43 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 0 |
| Reading | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rochester | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stoke Heath | 34 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
23 Jul 1997 : Column: 657
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what screening, preventive care and medical care is provided for juveniles in detention. [9274]
Ms Quin: The Prison Service health care standards require establishments to provide reception screening, clinical and other health assessment, counselling and education, to treat inmates, promote healthier life styles and, generally, to enable them to take informed decisions regarding matters affecting their health. The standards apply to young offender institutions as well as adult prisons.
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