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Police Stations (Disabled Access)
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of police stations in each police force are accessible to disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [68957]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested is not collected centrally in the manner requested. The Audit Commission published details, in January 1999, of the number of police authority buildings open to the public and those which have access to and are usable by the disabled. These are set out in the table.
(14) Home Office figures
Source:
Figures published by the Audit Commission: January 1999
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 752
HMP Coldingley
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the results of the internal audit into the letting of the workshop contract at HMP Coldingley to Wackenhut UK. [68945]
Mr. George Howarth: The report by Prison Service Internal Audit on this matter is an internal management document, concerning actions which are the subject of a disciplinary inquiry as well as issues which are subject to discussion with the contractor. It is not intended to publish it.
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sums are owed by Wackenhut UK to the prison service in lieu of the workshop contract at HMP Coldingley; what steps are being taken by his Department in relation to this contract; and if he will make a statement. [68944]
Mr. George Howarth: The contract for the management of the industries at Coldingley Prison ended on 31 January 1999 following the receipt of notice of termination from the contractor, Wackenhut (UK) Limited.
At 29 January, invoices totalling £170,531.18 payable under the terms of the contract had been presented to Wackenhut, but not yet paid; however, none were beyond the 30-day payment period. Additionally, Wackenhut are liable to make a final payment of £26,250 in February to complete repayment of a loan.
The Prison Service is in the process of establishing other sums due, in relation to operation of the contract during January, handover of assets at the end of the contract and other matters. Further invoices will be issued in due course.
The Prison Service has also started a disciplinary inquiry relating to concerns raised by an internal audit report on the operation of the contract.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces implemented all necessary measures under the new Public Safety
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 753
Radiocommunications project; what is the expected date of implementation in each police force; what is the total capital cost to each police force of implementing the system; what is the expected annual running cost of the system for each police force; and if he will make a statement. [68951]
Mr. Boateng:
All forces in England and Wales have been actively involved in Public Safety Radiocommunications project through establishment of dedicated teams, participation in regional user groups, direct consultations with the Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO), which is managing the project, and a programme of force visits by the prospective service provider, BT.
PITO have provided the provisional implementation dates for each force which are shown in the table.
| Force | Force wishes | Quadrant proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Avon and Somerset | 2000 | 2001 (Q1) |
| Cambridgeshire | 2000-01 | 2002 (Q1) |
| Cleveland | 2000 | 2000 (Q4) |
| Devon and Cornwall | 2000 | 2000 (Q4) |
| Durham | 2001 | 2001 (Q1) |
| Dyfed Powys | 1999 | 2001 (Q1) |
| Northumbria | 2000 | 2001 (Q1) |
| Nottinghamshire | 2002 | 2002 (Q1) |
| Wiltshire | 2000 | 2001 (Q1) |
| Metropolitan Police Service | 2003 | 2002-3 |
| Lancashire | Pilot | 1999 |
| Derbyshire | 2000-01 | 2000 |
| Gloucestershire | 2000 | 2000 |
| Greater Manchester Police | 2000 | 2000 |
| Leicestershire | 2000 | 2000 |
| Merseyside | 2000 | 2000 |
| North Yorkshire | 1999 | 2000 |
| Suffolk | 2000-01 | 2000 |
| West Mercia | 1999 | 2000 |
| Dorset | 2000 | 2001 |
| Gwent | 2000 | 2001 |
| Hampshire | 2000 | 2001 |
| Hertfordshire | 2001 | 2001 |
| South Wales | 2001 | 2001 |
| Thames Valley | 2001 | 2001 |
| Bedfordshire | 2001 | 2002 |
| Cheshire | 2002-03 | 2002 |
| Cumbria | 2001 | 2002 |
| Humberside | 2002 | 2002 |
| North Wales | 2002 | 2002 |
| South Yorkshire | 2003 | 2002 |
| Sussex | 2001 | 2002 |
| West Midlands | 2003 | 2002 |
| West Yorkshire | 2003 | 2002 |
| City of London | 2003 | 2003 |
| Essex | 2003 | 2003 |
| Kent | 2003 | 2003 |
| Lincolnshire | 2003 | 2003 |
| Norfolk | 2001 | 2003 |
| Northamptonshire | 2003 | 2003 |
| Staffordshire | 2003 | 2003 |
| Surrey | 2003 | 2003 |
| Warwickshire | 2003 | 2003 |
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 754
Police Efficiency
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list Her Majesty's National Inspectorate of Constabulary and Audit Commission proposals for improving police efficiency which are being implemented by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [68956]
Mr. Boateng: On 4 November 1998, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to all police authorities and forces, with guidance on making efficiency plans to deliver the 2 per cent. reinvestment from efficiency gains which my right hon. Friend required for 1999-2000.
This guidance drew heavily on areas for improved efficiency, suggested by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) in its 1998 thematic report on value for money and efficiency, "What Price Policing?". The Audit Commission also report on police performance, as required under the Local Government Act 1992. They compare force date in different police authority areas, and work closely with the Inspectorate to advise and support the Secretary of State. Both HMIC and the Audit Commission have identified that better use of assets and procurement practice, reviewing specialist units and administrative arrangements, reducing sickness and improved management of medical retirements can contribute to improved management of medical retirements can contribute to improved police performance. Copies of all the relevant reports are in the Library.
Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to police forces in respect of obtaining the 2 per cent. efficiency gains demanded by his Department in each of the next three years; what is his policy towards police forces reducing police officer numbers to achieve these gains; and if he will make a statement. [68949]
Mr. Boateng:
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary wrote to all police forces and authorities on 4 November 1998 with guidance to meet the 2 per cent. year-on-year efficiency target set by Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. A copy of the letter was placed in the Library. The guidance, which was prepared in consultation with Her Majesty's Treasury, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Police Authorities and the Audit Commission, sets out the information required in the efficiency plan and a pro forma for completion. It also lists areas identified by HMIC and the Audit Commission where there may well be scope of significant efficiency improvements, and which forces are encouraged to consider in preparing their plans.
Police forces can keep the resources released by achieving efficiency gains. The Government expect them to reinvest these resources to help improve delivery of frontline national and local policing priorities. The guidance makes clear that we will not consider cuts in officer numbers as an efficiency gain, except where forces can demonstrate that, in doing so, they have maintained or improved the existing level of service.
4 Feb 1999 : Column: 755
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