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Education Classes (Prisons)
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many education classes were provided each week at each of the London prisons in the last 12 months. [84398]
Mr. George Howarth: Information on the numbers of education classes which were provided each week at each of the London prisons in the last 12 months is not held centrally. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
| Prison | Number |
|---|---|
| Belmarsh | 89 |
| Brixton | 85 |
| Downview | 47 |
| Feltham Young Offender Institution | 130 |
| Highdown | 90 |
| Holloway | 88 |
| Latchmere | 4 |
| Pentonville | 77 |
| Wandsworth | 38 |
| Wormwood Scrubs | 63 |
Elderly Prisoners
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners in England and Wales are over the age of (i) 90 years, (ii) 80 years and (c) 70 years. [84399]
Mr. George Howarth: The information requested is given in the table.
| Aged | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| Over 70 years | 122 | 3 |
| Over 80 years | 11 | -- |
| Over 90 years | -- | -- |
| Total | 133 | 3 |
(1) Remand and sentenced prisoners
(2) Provisional figures
19 May 1999 : Column: 373
Sexual Abuse (Compensation)
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the (a) largest and (b) smallest amount paid in compensation to victims of sexual abuse and how many payments above £100,000 were made in each of the last three years for which information is available. [84339]
Mr. Boateng: Data are readily available only for claims received on or after 1 April 1996 under the tariff- based criminal injuries compensation scheme effective from that date which, unlike the former common law damages based scheme it superseded, is supported by a comprehensive computer system. The data on cases involving sexual abuse are as follows:
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Largest award | Smallest award | |
| 1996-97 | 27,500 | 1,000 |
| 1997-98 | 27,500 | 500 |
| 1998-99 | 22,500 | 750 |
In those three years the numbers of cases where Payments exceeded £100,000 were 139,115 and 130 respectively. Most such payments were in respect of claims made under the common law damages based scheme effective for claims submitted up to and including 31 March 1996. It is not possible to ascertain readily whether any of these concern sexual abuse cases.
Arson
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for tackling arson; and if he will make a statement. [84882]
Mr. George Howarth: As part of the Government's commitment to delivering safer communities, the Home Office is publishing today the outcome of a study undertaken to review arrangements for tackling arson. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.
The report, "Safer Communities--Towards Effective Arson Control", was commissioned because of concern that the number of arson fires had grown considerably in recent years while prosecutions and cautions for the offence had fallen. The outcome of the study has shown that although some local examples of good practice exist, much more needs to be done to tackle deliberately started fires. I want this report to mark the first step in the process to rectify that situation.
The report makes 22 recommendations for putting in place more effective arson control arrangements. A great deal of emphasis in the study is placed on greater liaison and co-operation, so I want to hear the views of all those who can contribute to tackling arson. We will therefore be consulting a wide range of interested parties over the next few months on how to take these proposals forward.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the procedure for determining the mode of trial in either-way cases; and if he will make a statement. [84884]
19 May 1999 : Column: 374
Mr. Straw:
The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, and more recently the Narey Review of Delay in the Criminal Justice System, recommended that defendants should not be able to choose to be tried by a jury in either-way cases which magistrates have indicated that they would be content to hear.
Having considered this recommendation and the responses to the consultation paper I issued last year on election for trial, I am announcing today that I will be bringing forward legislation when parliamentary time allows to abolish the ability of defendants to elect for jury trial in either-way cases (where the cases are triable either on indictment at the Crown Court or summarily at the magistrates' court).
The Government readily acknowledge that jury trial is preferable for certain sorts of either-way case. The question is whether it should be available at the choice of the defendant, or restricted to cases which objectively warrant it. In the same way that defendants do not have a choice of which magistrate, or which judge and jury, hears their case, we believe that defendants should not be able to choose a criminal justice jurisdiction where their case is tried. England and Wales is almost alone in allowing defendants a choice of court. In most jurisdictions, it is a matter for the court. In Scotland, it is at the election of the prosecution.
The majority of cases in which the defendant elects for Crown Court trial result eventually in guilty pleas, but only after greater inconvenience and worry to victims and witnesses, and at considerable extra cost. This Government's proposals will end the practice that many rightly regard as a manipulation of the criminal justice system by defendants demanding Crown Court trial for no good reason other than to delay proceedings.
But there will be safeguards. In determining where the case should be tried, magistrates' will be required to have regard not only to any defence representations, but also to such factors as the gravity of the offence, the complexity of the case and the effect of conviction (as legislation already requires) and the likely sentence on the defendants livelihood and reputation. Defendants will also be given an interlocutory right of appeal to the Crown Court against the Magistrates' decision on mode of trial.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish a focus group consultative arrangement on the issue of national identity cards. [83663]
Mr. George Howarth:
We have no present plans to establish a focus group; but we are continuing to consider the issues involved in identity cards.
Mr. Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will set out his Department's expenditure on (a) NHS audiology services and (b) the NHS provision of hearing aids for (i) adults and (ii) children, for each of the last five years; [84302]
19 May 1999 : Column: 375
Mr. Hutton:
The Department does not collect figures nationally for expenditure on National Health Service audiology services or of the cost of providing hearing aids. However, around half a million hearing aids per year are purchased from the NHS Supplies Authority at a cost of £16 million. In addition audiology departments also purchase some hearing aids from commercial suppliers.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for a White Paper on guidance and funding for people with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [84247]
Mr. Hutton:
Our White Paper "Modernising Social Services", published in November 1998, set out our strategy for the development of social services for all client groups including people with learning disabilities. They will also benefit from wider developments such as the proposals in our National Health Service White Paper and Public Health Green Paper, and developments elsewhere in Government. We have recently completed a review of learning disability hospital reprovisioning plans and a survey of 21 local authorities and their matching health authorities. The Department has also recently received comments from academic experts on the draft report of an evaluation of the cost and outcomes of different types of residential provision for people with learning disabilities. We will shortly be considering what, if any, further action needs to be taken in the light of this work and of the advice we receive from the Learning Disability Advisory Group set up last November.
(2) how much his Department plans to spend on (a) NHS audiology services and (b) the provision of hearing aids by the NHS for (i) adults and (ii) children, in the current year. [84303]
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