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Correspondence
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter dated 11 June, ref. No. 9675/97, regarding a constituent. [11081]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am writing today to my hon. Friend.
Prison Places
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison places were available in each year since 1979. [11250]
Ms Quin:
The information required is given in the table.
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 146
| CNA | |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 37,881 |
| 1980 | 38,472 |
| 1981 | 38,747 |
| 1982 | 38,653 |
| 1983 | 38,783 |
| 1984 | 39,033 |
| 1985 | 39,804 |
| 1986 | 40,811 |
| 1987 | 41,994 |
| 1988 | 44,179 |
| 1989 | 45,427 |
| 1990 | 42,804 |
| 1991 | 43,875 |
| 1992 | 46,239 |
| 1993 | 46,646 |
| 1994 | 48,291 |
| 1995 | 50,239 |
| 1996 | 53,152 |
| 1997 | 56,329 |
Source:
Prison statistics England and Wales 1989 and 1995.
Figures for 1996 and 1997 strategic planning section, HM Prison Service.
Note:
Accommodation excludes places taken out of use for refurbishment. It represents the total number of uncrowded places estimated to be available in the prison estate.
Crime Statistics
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the percentage change in recorded crime in the last four years.[11127]
Mr. Michael: Between 1992 and 1996, total recorded crime fell by 10 per cent.
However, over the same period, total recorded violent crime rose by 21 per cent. and total recorded crime today is 31 per cent. higher than it was 10 years ago. We have begun a determined onslaught on crime and the causes of crime. Our strategy places the victim at the heart of the criminal justice system and aims to tackle what has become an unacceptable level of crime and neighbourhood disorder.
Firearms Compensation
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of departmental expenditure on firearms compensation and related costs in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-00 and how these figures differ from those assumed in the departmental spending plans contained in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997-98"; and if he will make a statement.[11248]
Mr. Michael: The expected costs of the compensation for firearms and ancillary equipment was set out at the time of the parliamentary debates on the compensation scheme and the current Firearms (Amendment) Bill.
The present estimate of expenditure on compensation and related costs arising from the implementation of the
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 147
Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 and the Firearms (Amendment) Bill is as follows:
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | |
| Compensation payments | 115 | 45 |
| Administrative costs | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 120 | 46 |
No expenditure is expected in 1999-00.
No specific provision was made for firearms compensation in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997-98" although the cost of compensation was identified as a potential claim on the reserve.
New Technology
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been invested at current prices by the Government in each year since 1979 in new technology to help the police deal with crime. [11355]
Mr. Michael: The information is not available in the form requested. In the years 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98 respectively, the Home Office budget for central scientific and technical support for the police is £48.9 million, £51.9 million and £59.4 million at 1997-98 prices. It should be noted that these are aggregate figures and will cover such items as the general operating costs of the police national computer.
One of its next steps agencies, the Forensic Science Service, has invested or will invest the following over the same period: £3 million, £3.1 million and £3.4 million on capital investment in new technology, and £3.5 million, £2.9 million and £3 million on research and development activity, excluding equipment, all at 1997-98 prices.
Police (Staff)
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of (a) police officers and (b) police civilian staff workers in each year since 1979. [11157]
Mr. Michael: The information requested is set out in the table:
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 148
Prison Officers
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers were in post in each year since 1979. [11251]
Ms Quin: The information required is given in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 11,138 |
| 1980 | 11,225 |
| 1981 | 12,192 |
| 1982 | 12,198 |
| 1983 | 12,312 |
| 1984 | 12,713 |
| 1985 | 13,022 |
| 1986 | 13,336 |
| 1987 | (5)19,072 |
| 1988 | 18,039 |
| 1989 | 19,629 |
| 1990 | 20,785 |
| 1991 | 21,421 |
| 1992 | 23,029 |
| 1993 | 23,994 |
| 1994 | 23,756 |
| 1995 | 24,237 |
| 1996 | 24,398 |
| 1997 | (6)23,058 |
(5) The increase between 1986 and 1987 reflects the change in prison officer working practices and the reduction in their hours worked.
(6)The reduction from 1996 to 1997 can be partly explained by the fact that prison officers left under the voluntary early severance scheme.
Prisons
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) new prisons have opened and (b) prisons have closed in each year since 1979. [11249]
Ms Quin: Table A details new prison establishments that have been brought into use--short-term conversions of, for example, Army camps are not included--since 1979. Table B details those which have been taken out of use since 1979.
YOI: young offenders institution.
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 149
| Year taken out of use | Name of prison |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Appleton Thorn |
| 1982 | Moor Court |
| 1983 | Gaynes Hall |
| 1987 | Medomsley |
| 1988 | Gringley |
| 1989 | Ashford |
| 1989 | Buckley Hall |
| 1991 | Campsfield House |
| 1992 | Lowdham Grange |
| 1992 | Northeye |
| 1996 | Finnamore Wood |
| 1996 | Oxford |
| 1996 | Pucklechurch |
Three of locations--Appleton Thorn, Buckley Hall and Gaynes Hall--are now the sites of new prisons; HMYOI Thorn Cross, HMP Buckley Hall and HMP Littlehey respectively. In addition, Lowdham Grange is currently being rebuilt and another, Pucklechurch, is to be rebuilt during 1998-99. Planning clearance also exists to build a new prison on the site of what was Ashford remand centre.
Prison Service
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the level of public spending in current prices on the Prison Service was in each year since 1979. [11356]
Ms Quin:
Expenditure by the Prison Service in England and Wales for each year from 1979-80 is set out in the table at 1996-97 prices. These figures include expenditure borne on the Property Services Agency vote up to 1987-88 for the capital costs of new prisons. Because of the nature of the Government accounting system, some other costs attributable to the running of the prison system, for example superannuation, rates and common services, were charged to other votes during some of the earlier years in the table.
29 Jul 1997 : Column: 150
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1979-80 | 790.5 |
| 1980-81 | 898.6 |
| 1981-82 | 900.2 |
| 1982-83 | 949.5 |
| 1983-84 | 1,002.0 |
| 1984-85 | 1,022.7 |
| 1985-86 | 1,070.6 |
| 1986-87 | 1,105.0 |
| 1987-88 | 1,167.9 |
| 1988-89 | 1,284.1 |
| 1989-90 | 1,482.4 |
| 1990-91 | 1,640.1 |
| 1991-92 | 1,680.3 |
| 1992-93 | 1,621.6 |
| 1993-94 | 1,617.1 |
| 1994-95 | 1,687.1 |
| 1995-96 | 1,712.9 |
| 1996-97 (provisional) | 1,604.9 |
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