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Private Prisons
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total number of (a) fines and (b) contract payments which have been reduced to reflect the performance against the contract at (1) HMP Parc, (2) HMP Lowdham Grange, (3) HMP Altcourse, (4) HMP Wolds, (5) HMP Buckley Hall and (6) HMP Doncaster; and if he will state the reasons for each fine and reduced payment. [82446]
Mr. George Howarth:
As shown in the table, there have been thirteen occasions on which a payment to a contractor managing a prison has been reduced. The table includes Blakenhurst prison which is also managed by a contractor. There is no distinction between a fine and a reduction in payment because a fine is made by being deducted from a due payment.
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| Prison | Date | Amount (£) | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altcourse | May 1998 | 28,089 | Failure to meet performance standards |
| Blakenhurst | February 1994 | 41,167 | Temporary reduction in cell availability |
| November 1998 | 25,000 | Escape from escort | |
| Buckley Hall | February 1997 | 526 | Failure to meet performance standards |
| Doncaster | -- | -- | -- |
| Lowdham Grange | July 1998 | 702 | 1 unavailable place |
| October 1998 | 45,080 | Failure to meet performance standards | |
| January 1999 | 31,231 | Failure to meet performance standards | |
| February 1999 | 6,334 | Failure to meet performance standards | |
| Parc | March 1998 | 54,782 | Failure to meet to standard requirements |
| May 1998 | 1,309 | Failure to meet performance standards | |
| July 1998 | 298 | Doubling cell occupation beyond permitted level | |
| October 1998 | 306,747 | Failure to meet performance standards | |
| Wolds | September 1998 | 23,855 | Reduction in service |
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28 Apr 1999 : Column: 165
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates in prisons in England and Wales have a record of illegal drug taking. [82289]
Mr. George Howarth:
Between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 1998, 88,304 mandatory drug tests were conducted on prisoners, of which 20,152 tested positive for drugs. The figures include some prisoners who will have been tested more than once. Implementation of the Prison Service drug strategy over the next three years will include provision of information about new prisoners' histories of drug misuse prior to arrival in prison.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons in England and Wales have drug treatment facilities; and how many prisoners were undertaking such treatment on 1 April. [82290]
Mr. George Howarth:
Systematic data about existing programmes and the number of participating prisoners is not yet collected centrally. The table gives the best available information about the current situation and the proposed outcome of implementation of the Prison Service's drug strategy.
| Service provision | Current situation | After drug strategy implementation |
|---|---|---|
| CARATs(3) | 43 | all establishments |
| Detoxification(4) | 10 | 35 |
| Rehabilitation programmes | 24 | 60 |
| Therapeutic communities | 4 | 8 |
| Voluntary testing | 46 | all establishments |
(3) Low threshold Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare service which will meet the needs of the great majority of prisoners
(4) Enhanced detoxification facilities in local prisons and remand centres
Prisoners (MPs' Visits)
Mr. McDonnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance is given by his
28 Apr 1999 : Column: 166
Department to Her Majesty's prisons on the arrangements to be made to respond to requests by hon. Members to visit a prisoner; [82323]
Mr. George Howarth:
The arrangements are set out in Prison Standing Order 5D. Prisoners can request or consent to a visit from a Member of Parliament, upon which the Governor will produce a valid special visiting order. The Governor will also ensure that the visit does not take place within the hearing of prison staff, unless either party or security considerations demand otherwise. The Governor can also permit the Member to tape record any conversation which takes place during the visit. This, along with other special visits, including those from legal advisers and priests or ministers, does not normally count against the prisoner's allowance for visits.
Mr. Laurence Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of persons held on remand were found guilty when brought to trial in the last year for which figures are available. [82459]
Mr. George Howarth:
Seventy-two per cent. of persons held on remand in England and Wales in 1997 were found guilty when brought to trial.
Mr. Opik:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by police authority (a) the number of officers who have retired and (b) the estimated cost of paying the pensions of retired officers in each of the last five years. [82492]
Mr. George Howarth:
Information on the number of officers retiring is set out in the table. For information on the cost of police pensions I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 23 March 1999, Official Report, columns 164-72.
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(2) what arrangements there are for visits to prisoners in Her Majesty's prisons by hon. Members. [82324]
28 Apr 1999 : Column: 167
28 Apr 1999 : Column: 167
Mr. Ian Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the negotiations between the Metropolitan Police and the Surrey Constabulary to effect the transfer of responsibility for policing parts of Surrey. [81624]
Kate Hoey:
I understand that the negotiations between the Metropolitan police and Surrey police have made good progress on the wide range of detailed issues which need to be resolved in order to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibility on 1 April 2000. These negotiations take place bilaterally or, where appropriate, in a wider forum involving Essex police and Hertfordshire Constabulary, the other two forces affected by the change to the Metropolitan police district boundary. All four forces are represented on the central consultative group which the Home Office has set up to bring together all interested parties. There has been an excellent spirit of co-operation throughout.
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