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Electoral Malpractice (Hackney)
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been spent to date by (a) the Crown Prosecution Service, (b) the police and (c) his Department on investigations into electoral malpractice in Hackney Borough; and if he will make a statement. [85361]
Mr. George Howarth: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis estimates the cost of the investigation into complaints of electoral malpractice at London borough elections in 1998 as approximately £85,000 to date. No Home Office money has been spent. The inquiry is still ongoing and is, therefore, an operational matter for the Metropolitan police.
Correspondence
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 103, on young offenders and 2 March 1999, Official Report, column 636, on persistent offenders, when he plans to write to the right hon. Member for Penrith and the Border. [85433]
Mr. Straw: I expect to write to the right hon. Gentleman within the next ten days.
Diarmuid O'Neill
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will request the Police Complaints Authority to report to him on the circumstances of the death of Diarmuid O'Neill under section 97(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984; and if he will lay the report before Parliament. [85340]
Mr. Straw: It is for the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to decide, under section 79(2) of the Police Act 1996 (previously section 97(2) of the 1984 Act), whether to make a report on any matters which they consider should be brought to my attention by reason of their gravity or other exceptional circumstances. I am not aware of any plans to make such a report on the case of Diarmuid O'Neill.
I can only call for a report on such matters relating generally to the PCA's functions. It does not allow me to call for a report on a specific investigation.
The circumstances of Mr. O'Neill's death will be the subject of a coroner's inquest currently being scheduled.
Mr. Olner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been implemented at airports to check children's passports. [85327]
8 Jun 1999 : Column: 256
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
All arriving passengers, including children, are liable to be examined by an immigration officer in order to determine identity and nationality. No particular distinction is made between the examination of adults' and children's passports.
The previous Administration had already removed, in 1994, embarkation controls for passengers travelling from ferry ports and small airports to destinations within the European Union/European Economic Area, with the consequence that some 40 per cent. of all departing passengers were not seen by an immigration officer. There has never been an embarkation control for channel tunnel services. What was left of the control was, therefore, ineffective in providing a reliable record of a person's departure, and we have since introduced new arrangements following my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wythenshawe and Sale, East (Mr. Goggins), Official Report, columns 506-07 on 16 March 1998.
The new system involves a close partnership between the control authorities and port operators based on intelligence and target led embarkation checks, including the increased use of closed circuit television. There are no plans to reinstate routine embarkation controls, although immigration officers will continue to retain their powers to examine the passports of departing passengers if circumstances require.
Mr. Olner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children's passports have been issued within the last 12 months. [85326]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
In the period 1 May 1998 to 30 April 1999, 889,180 passports were issued to applicants who were children under the age of 16.
Mr. Olner:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken in respect of the endorsement of children's passports with relevant court orders. [85328]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
No steps have yet been taken in respect of the endorsement of children's passports. This important issue will be looked at by the Parent/Carer Child Abduction Co-ordinating Group of officials in the light of the arrangements for embarkation controls introduced in March 1998.
However, there are a number of measures in place to ensure compliance with court orders in relation to the issuing of children's passports. Where it is known that a child is a ward of court, or subject to a prohibited steps order requiring the leave of the court before removal from the United Kingdom, passport facilities are not granted unless the court's permission is obtained.
The Passport Agency also operates a scheme whereby a parent or other objector, where there is a court order in their favour, can ask the Agency not to issue a passport for a child. The Passport Agency ensures that the terms of the court order, about removal of the child from the jurisdiction, are met before issuing a passport. Where a child is already in possession of a valid passport, the court is able to order its surrender where there is in force an order prohibiting or otherwise restricting the removal of the child from the United Kingdom.
A requirement for children to hold separate passports was introduced in October 1998, one of the main aims of this policy being to make child abduction more difficult.
8 Jun 1999 : Column: 257
Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many call-outs were responded to by the Gloucestershire fire brigade in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 to date. [85440]
Mr. George Howarth:
The information in the table shows the total number of fires and false alarms attended by Gloucestershire Fire Brigade, for 1997 and 1998. Information for 1999 is not yet available centrally.
| Gloucestershire Fire Brigade | 1997 (19) | 1998 (19) |
|---|---|---|
| Total fires | 2,864 | 2,649 |
| False alarms | 3,023 | 2,773 |
| Total fires and false alarms | 5,887 | 5,422 |
(19) Provisional data. Figures include late call, heat and smoke incidents.
Special service incidents are recorded on a financial year basis. Gloucestershire fire brigade recorded 1,492 special service incidents for the financial year 1997-98. Data for 1998-99 are not yet available.
Mrs. Organ:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths caused by fire
8 Jun 1999 : Column: 258
occurred in Gloucestershire in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999 to date. [85441]
Mr. George Howarth:
Provisional figures show that Gloucestershire fire brigade recorded eight fire-related deaths in 1997 and three in 1998. Data for 1999 are not yet available, centrally.
These figures may be subject to change; there are circumstances in which further information becomes available (from death certificates, inquests etc.) where the cause of death is not actually the fire, or where perhaps persons may die sometime after the fire due to injuries sustained.
Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary sanctions have been imposed on prison officers following complaints of ill-treatment in each of the last five years. [84944]
Mr. George Howarth:
The table shows, from those records which are available, the penalties awarded to prison officer grades under the Prison Service code of conduct and discipline, for misconduct involving ill-treatment of prisoners, for the last five financial years.
8 Jun 1999 : Column: 257
| Year/offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | |
| Assault | Final written warning and loss of increment |
| Assault | Dismissed (but Civil Service Appeal Board upheld appeal) |
| Incorrect Control and Restraint Procedures | Written Warning |
| Questioned prisoner in unprofessional manner | Warning |
| 1995-96 | |
| Assault | Final written warning and loss of increment |
| Theft of Prisoner's monies | Dismissed |
| 1996-97 | |
| Assault | Final written warning. Removal from field of promotion |
| Physical abuse of prisoners | Final written warning |
| Use of unnecessary force | Final written warning. Removal from field of promotion |
| Inappropriate behaviour | Final written warning |
| Excessive use of force | Final written warning |
| 1997-98 | |
| Assault | Final written warning |
| Assault | Dismissed |
| Excessive force | Final written warning |
| Unnecessary application of handcuff restraints | Oral warning |
| Forced strip search (3 officers) | Dismissed |
| 1998-99 | |
| Assault | Final warning. Removal from field of promotion |
| Assault | Dismissed |
| Assault | Written warning |
| Unnecessary force | Oral warning |
| Failure to obtain authorisation for search and to report use of force | Written warning |
| Verbal abuse | Written warning |
| Offensive language to prisoner in dangerous situation | Final written warning |
| Indecent behaviour | Dismissed (appeal pending) |
8 Jun 1999 : Column: 257
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