---

Hepatitis C (Prisons)

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to institute random or compulsory testing for hepatitis C in prison. [88674]

Mr. George Howarth: There are no plans at present to introduce random or compulsory testing for hepatitis C in prison.

Personality Disorders

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the compatibility of his plans for new legal powers for the detention of people with dangerous personality disorders with the European Convention on Human Rights. [88626]

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 102

Mr. Straw: The Government fully recognise the need for the arrangements for the detention and management of dangerous severely personality-disordered people to be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. This need has been taken into consideration in the work which has been done so far. There will be a process of consultation before final decisions are taken about the precise legal framework and about the facilities within which people will be detained. As the hon. Member is aware, section 19 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires the Minister in charge of a Bill to make a statement before second reading of the Bill as to the compatibility of the provisions with the Convention rights.

Civil Defence Grants

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the new distribution mechanism for civil defence grants. [88840]

Mr. George Howarth: The sole avenue of consultation on this issue has been the Local Government Association (LGA). In recognition that the issues excites strong views, exceptional approval was given for a joint Home Office/LGA Working Group to examine the issues surrounding grant redistribution. The Group met twice and, although a consensus was not reached, there were areas of agreement and Home Office adjusted its proposals following this consultation.

Since work began on the new distribution mechanism, written representations have been received from many different types of local authority affected by proposed changes. Some of this has been Ministerial but correspondence has been dealt with by officials.

The outcome of the new mechanism was announced to Chief Executives in a letter dated 26 May.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in respect of each local authority in England and Wales (a) the amount paid in civil defence grant in 1999-2000, (b) the provisional maximum allocation of civil defence grant for 2000-01 and (c) the provisional maximum allocation of civil defence grant for 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. [88881]

Mr. George Howarth: The completion of the local government reorganisation process has provided an opportunity to reassess the distribution of civil defence grant to local authorities in England and Wales, and consultation has taken place between Home Office and the Local Government Association (LGA). An announcement about the new mechanism was made to Chief Executives in a letter of 26 May.

As the information required is lengthy, tables have been placed in the Library. Copies of these tables were sent to the LGA and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) at the time of the announcement.

Interception of Communications Act 1985

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the relative increases between 1997 and 1998 on the number of warrants issued by the (i) Secretary of State

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 103

for the Home Department and (ii) the Secretary of State for Scotland under the Interception of Communications Act 1985; [88720]

(2) what reasons underlie the increase in warrants allowing interception of telecommunications issued by him in 1998 under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. [88719]

Mr. Straw: In his annual report for 1998, the Interception Commissioner records that the substantial increase in interception is due to the continuing incidence of large-scale crime and the greater interception facilities available to meet it. He was satisfied that the strict statutory criteria continued to be applied.

He further recorded that the police and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, assisted in some cases by the security and intelligence agencies, have had many outstanding successes; and that interception of communications remains an effective and an essential operation in the interests of national security and of safeguarding the economic well being of the United Kingdom, and in the prevention and detection of serious crime. Examples of the value of interception in the fight against serious crime are given in the consultation paper on interception of communications which I published on 22 June.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many warrants issued under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 and in force on 31 December 1998 had as their justification (i) the prevention or detection of serious crime, (ii) the interests of national security and (iii) the safeguarding of the economic well-being of the UK; and how many warrants were issued which did not cite one of the above three reasons as its justification; [88718]

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 104

(2) how many warrants have been (a) applied for and (b) granted under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, where the justification given was to safeguard the economic well-being of the United Kingdom and where the intended target was a UK citizen or citizens. [88721]

Mr. Straw: The Annual Report of the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, published on 17 June, records the number of interception warrants issued annually by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland. Paragraph 29 of the Report gives the reasons for not providing further information concerning the purpose for which warrants were issued. I consider that it remains in the public interest to follow the established practice and not to provide any more detailed breakdown of the figures in the Commissioner's Report. No warrant may be, or has been, issued unless it is considered necessary to do so in the interests of national security; for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or for the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom.

UK Passport Agency

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the volume was of incoming telephone calls from the 0990 service to each office of the UK Passport Agency in each month since May 1997. [88878]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The number of incoming telephone calls transferred from the 0990 service to each office in the UK Passport Agency in each month since May 1997 is shown in the table.

In addition to these calls transferred from the 0870-0990 service, each Regional Office receives calls from an alternative number, which is given out by recorded courtesy messages and high street partners.

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 103

Number of effective calls transferred to each regional office TEB by 0990 service

Date	Belfast	Glasgow	Liverpool	London	Newport	Peterborough	Total
1997
May	4,730	18,540	27,037	16,502	27,987	21,448	116,244
June	6,545	21,216	26,665	19,283	29,634	22,795	126,138
July	5,044	17,353	25,740	38,452	29,496	16,767	132,852
August	4,465	14,687	19,439	29,086	23,472	15,409	106,558
September	4,094	14,350	22,954	22,273	27,983	19,373	111,027
October	2,728	15,885	20,255	18,459	25,501	19,201	102,029
November	1,191	12,561	14,228	8,525	19,094	15,850	71,449
December	1,555	11,582	15,532	8,559	18,907	14,784	70,919
1998
January	3,302	15,235	21,880	11,447	33,414	22,802	107,090
February	2,040	15,378	21,855	13,224	32,441	21,587	106,525
March	4,493	19,367	28,962	14,805	40,089	23,573	131,289
April	6,092	17,774	24,836	13,573	37,546	19,817	119,638
May	7,848	19,042	24,840	18,216	38,829	16,098	124,873
June	11,984	18,383	26,128	16,440	34,901	14,860	122,696
July	--	--	--	--	--	--	0
August	7,769	18,861	19,732	13,163	28,431	17,507	105,463
September	7,771	18,472	4,346	23,971	35,233	19,356	109,149
October	--	--	--	--	--	--	0
November	6,707	18,246	14,744	27,337	26,011	11,673	104,718
December	801	12,047	12,283	17,077	18,022	12,988	73,218
1999
January	1,948	16,829	15,820	23,017	24,558	21,041	103,213
February	2,118	17,315	12,929	20,503	26,762	21,460	101,087
March	3,171	21,262	9,100	32,412	27,148	22,338	115,431
April	4,430	16,987	5,882	12,964	21,812	15,234	77,309
May	4,564	13,549	4,411	10,212	59,798	8,662	101,196

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 105

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the longest waiting time for personal callers at each office of the UK Passport Agency in each month since May 1997. [88962]

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 106

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested on the longest waiting times for personal callers at each office of the UK Passport Agency in each month since May 1997 is set out in the table.

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 105

Maximum waiting time (minutes) for personal callers 1997, 1998 and 1999

Months	London	Liverpool	Peterborough	Newport	Glasgow	Belfast
1997
September	106	60	63	30	77	32
October	95	40	70	30	58	15
November	130	60	55	30	60	20
December	172	90	75	20	68	20
1998
January	122	80	40	30	65	20
February	189	70	40	45	67	25
March	150	60	50	40	60	25
April	158	70	50	30	49	10
May	120	90	45	40	67	15
June	250	80	100	45	86	15
July	216	110	100	45	87	20
August	141	110	105	40	51	30
September	171	100	60	40	56	20
October	134	100	60	40	55	10
November	73	100	90	40	48	5
December	188	100	80	30	50	5
1999
January	114	100	40	25	57	20
February	169	100	55	35	39	25
March	225	140	60	45	56	15
April	238	140	90	50	56	60
May	323	140	150	55	75	60

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 105

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unprocessed passport applications were outstanding at the end of each week since 1 January 1999 at each office of the UK Passport Agency. [88882]

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 106

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested on the numbers of unprocessed passport applications outstanding at the end of each week since 1 January 1999 is set out in the table.

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 105

Unprocessed passport applications 1999

Week ending	London	Liverpool	Peterborough	Newport	Glasgow	Belfast	Total
3 January 1999	3,938	9,585	8,111	10,630	22,969	5,591	60,824
10 January 1999	3,887	20,444	14,598	11,154	22,364	5,392	77,839
17 January 1999	2,843	23,029	20,466	10,327	24,548	9,632	90,845
24 January 1999	4,180	30,530	27,052	29,641	30,693	15,057	137,153
31 January 1999	5,249	31,173	39,966	31,750	40,532	18,610	167,280
7 February 1999	5,507	40,057	47,715	39,328	44,180	21,632	198,419
14 February 1999	5,976	52,161	51,326	46,823	47,107	18,393	221,786
21 February 1999	6,708	62,526	60,747	50,789	55,247	17,868	253,885
28 February 1999	8,095	81,396	60,206	57,540	58,605	14,351	280,193
7 March 1999	8,088	74,417	55,976	57,446	61,541	18,105	275,573
14 March 1999	8,047	83,115	61,608	56,545	63,942	20,147	293,404
21 March 1999	22,014	77,255	62,484	61,726	64,862	21,639	309,980
28 March 1999	9,748	76,895	65,214	59,839	65,851	27,151	304,698
4 April 1999	9,809	71,387	68,784	53,817	72,810	24,417	301,024
11 April 1999	9,820	73,169	67,893	55,792	75,311	29,195	311,180
18 April 1999	7,342	79,344	72,758	58,517	82,333	33,108	333,402
25 April 1999	8,113	87,892	88,253	58,993	90,121	33,279	366,651
2 May 1999	9,530	97,030	90,403	61,992	102,102	36,016	397,073
9 May 1999	12,505	107,352	91,646	65,888	108,655	38,466	424,512
16 May 1999	13,929	118,055	95,813	71,176	121,258	38,912	459,143
23 May 1999	13,602	137,897	99,398	76,465	124,524	33,999	485,885
30 May 1999	12,470	147,792	102,073	83,256	128,721	24,527	498,839
6 June 1999	11,684	143,093	93,411	87,005	127,416	25,049	487,658
13 June 1999	13,143	161,823	100,214	104,428	133,207	18,570	531,385
20 June 1999	11,607	184,362	100,089	113,007	136,594	19,877	565,536

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 107

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the UK Passport Agency's business plan 1999-2000 and corporate plan 1999-02. [88880]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I will place a copy of the UK Passport Agency's 1999-2000 Business Plan and 1999-02 Corporate Plan in the Library of the House once it has been approved, which I hope will be in the next few weeks.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in respect of each office of the UK Passport Agency the volume of incoming

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 108

telephone calls for each week since 1 January and the percentage of such calls which were answered within 60 seconds. [88877]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK Passport Agency's published telephone inquiry number is a single non-geographical number (0870 5210410). The inquiry service is fronted by an automated menu system which, depending on the option selected, then routes calls to either an appropriate recorded message (for general inquiries) or an operator (for specific inquiries). Details of the volume of incoming calls are listed in the following table.

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 107

Month	Recorded/ courtesy messages	Belfast	Glasgow	London	Liverpool	Newport	Peterborough
January 1998	516,045	13,521	25,918	22,512	37,624	46,624	21,596
July 1998	563,559	11,196	24,457	15,305	36,151	41,376	25,153
August 1998	279,214	9,047	26,776	15,168	(1)--	34,086	23,936
September 1998	202,702	8,744	26,724	26,805	(1)--	(1)--	25,592
October 1998	291,458	10,764	23,576	30,123	13,569	(1)--	(1)--
November 1998	131,726	7,366	23,348	31,195	20,129	26.481	15,103
December 1998	192,176	1,412	17,292	20,712	17,969	22,465	16,796
January 1999	332,296	875	21,984	26,725	21,445	32,911	25,566
February 1999	370,537	4,152	20,878	23,691	17,421	35,479	27,982
March 1999	668,287	4,876	25,914	38,020	15,060	30,148	29,470
April 1999	669,048	9,249	19,822	15,324	10,914	25,695	20,036
May 1999	1,388,522	9,175	16,706	17,053	6,893	26,240	12,988

(1) Management information not available due to refurbishment work

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 107

It can be seen from the table that an element of the calls are answered centrally by recorded messages, while the remainder are transferred to the local office to be answered by an operator. The percentage of calls answered within 60 seconds by an operator is detailed in the following table. Gaps in the table occur when information is not currently accessible.

Volume of calls dealt with at each regional office and percentage answered within 60 seconds

Week	Volume of calls answered	Percentage of calls answered within 60 seconds
Belfast
4 January 1999	--	--
11 January 1999	--	--
18 January 1999	1,037	93.10
25 January 1999	--	--
1 February 1999	875	91.90
8 February 1999	1,020	98.50
15 February 1999	1,095	98.90
22 February 1999	1,164	97.10
1 March 1999	--	--
8 March 1999	--	--
15 March 1999	--	--
22 March 1999	1,276	90.20
29 March 1999	971	92.30
5 April 1999	--	--
12 April 1999	1,883	84.20
19 April 1999	2,322	76.60
26 April 1999	2,544	71.30
3 May 1999	--	--
10 May 1999	--	--
17 May 1999	--	--
24 May 1999	2,220	25.10
31 May 1999	--	--
7 June 1999	1,869	20.30
Glasgow
4 January 1999	3,829	24.00
11 January 1999	6,124	51.80
18 January 1999	6,703	63.90
25 January 1999	5,328	75.10
1 February 1999	5,059	69.00
8 February 1999	5,109	67.50
15 February 1999	5,325	74.90
22 February 1999	5,385	91.40
1 March 1999	5,344	86.10
8 March 1999	5,732	88.80
15 March 1999	5,463	88.20
22 March 1999	5,837	87.50
29 March 1999	4,430	85.20
5 April 1999	4,185	70.40
12 April 1999	4,541	74.10
19 April 1999	5,348	89.20
26 April 1999	4,867	78.50
3 May 1999	3,896	72.90
10 May 1999	4,705	74.30
17 May 1999	4,500	60.00
24 May 1999	3,606	51.20
31 May 1999	2,696	28.20
7 June 1999	4,187	57.00
Liverpool
4 January 1999	4,544	49.10
11 January 1999	6,036	41.80
18 January 1999	5,630	43.20
25 January 1999	5,235	48.40
1 February 1999	5,033	48.90
8 February 1999	4,190	40.40
5 February 1999	4,007	33.80
22 February 1999	4,191	39.60
1 March 1999	3,684	52.60
8 March 1999	3,099	45.00
15 March 1999	3,387	61.70
22 March 1999	3,141	74.80
29 March 1999	2,476	84.40
5 April 1999	2,767	79.70
12 April 1999	2,459	80.70
19 April 1999	2,124	78.80
26 April 1999	2,045	91.80
3 May 1999	--	--
10 May 1999	1,843	16.80
17 May 1999	2,685	17.60
24 May 1999	1,049	22.70
31 May 1999	--	--
7 June 1999	--	--
London
4 January 1999	7,304	86.80
11 January 1999	6,738	86.60
18 January 1999	6,565	88.80
25 January 1999	6,118	93.00
1 February 1999	5,714	95.60
8 February 1999	5,990	93.20
15 February 1999	5,902	86.60
22 February 1999	6,085	95.60
1 March 1999	7,700	87.00
8 March 1999	8,070	75.40
15 March 1999	8,315	77.80
22 March 1999	9,386	87.60
29 March 1999	5,606	71.00
5 April 1999	3,225	24.50
12 April 1999	3,653	15.80
19 April 1999	3,999	25.00
26 April 1999	3,390	10.60
3 May 1999	2,153	12.30
10 May 1999	3,775	18.20
17 May 1999	3,560	14.40
24 May 1999	2,870	6.40
31 May 1999	1,668	4.00
7 June 1999	3,027	8.20
Newport
4 January 1999	8,482	15.80
11 January 1999	8,156	17.00
18 January 1999	8,070	16.90
25 January 1999	8,203	6.60
1 February 1999	8,398	6.80
8 February 1999	8,982	9.90
15 February 1999	8,798	12.60
22 February 1999	9,301	16.20
1 March 1999	--	--
8 March 1999	--	--
15 March 1998	--	--
22 March 1999	--	--
29 March 1999	--	--
5 April 1999	--	--
12 April 1999	--	--
19 April 1999	8,872	10.30
26 April 1999	8,323	13.50
3 May 1999	5,143	13.10
10 May 199	5,492	7.80
17 May 1999	4,618	0.00
24 May 1999	6,130	0.00
31 May 1999	--	--
7 June 1999	--	--
Peterborough
4 January 1999	5,389	69.40
11 January 1999	6,505	82.30
18 January 1999	6,901	88.50
25 January 1999	6,771	81.60
1 February 1999	7,044	81.50
8 February 1999	6,986	66.40
15 February 1999	6,918	59.80
22 February 1999	7,034	65.80
1 March 1999	6,815	60.40
8 March 1999	6,720	64.30
15 March 1999	6,548	63.50
22 March 1999	6,101	57.90
29 March 1999	4,288	46.30
5 April 1999	4,504	47.40
12 April 1999	5,750	52.50
19 April 1999	5,352	38.60
26 April 1999	4,430	23.40
3 May 1999	3,094	24.50
10 May 1999	3,479	9.60
17 May 1999	3,173	9.80
24 May 1999	3,242	29.10
31 May 1999	3,558	45.40
7 June 1999	4,355	42.40

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 110

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time taken by the UK Passport Agency to send a substantive reply to correspondence from members of the public in each month in 1999 and for the most recent date for which information is available. [88884]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK Passport Agency works to a target of 10 working days for replying to correspondence. Performance against this target is measured in terms of the percentage of replies sent within 10 working days and figures for the average time taken to reply are not available. The percentage of correspondence replied to within 10 working days in each month in 1999 is as set out in the table.

Month	Percentage
January	93
February	100
March	100
April	88
May	66

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress and conclusions of the 1999 review of the agency status of the UK Passport Agency. [88879]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The 1999 review of the Agency Status of the UK Passport Agency was triggered last May and is expected to deliver its recommendations early next year.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average time taken by the UK Passport Agency to acknowledge correspondence about complex cases was in each month of 1999 and for the latest date for which information is available. [88876]

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 111

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK Passport Agency normally acknowledges correspondence about complex cases within five working days. These are cases where there are complex issues and it is not possible to send a substantive reply within the ten working day target for dealing with correspondence. Figures are not available for the average time taken to send acknowledgements. However, in most complex cases, the five working day target is being met.

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 112

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of personal callers were seen within (a) 60 minutes and (b) 45 minutes at each office of the Passport Agency in each month since May 1997. [88883]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested on the proportion of personal callers seen within (a) 60 minutes and (b) 45 minutes in each month since May 1997 are set out in the following tables.

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 111

Personal callers seen within 60 minutesPercentage

Month	London(2)	Liverpool	Peterborough	Newport	Glasgow	Belfast
1997
September	61.00	100.00	92.00	100.00	88.00	100.00
October	63.00	100.00	98.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
November	71.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
December	42.00	90.00	96.00	100.00	99.00	100.00
1998
January	85.00	91.20	100.00	100.00	96.00	100.00
February	58.50	98.00	100.00	100.00	95.00	100.00
March	66.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
April	89.21	98.40	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
May	57.90	90.00	100.00	100.00	93.00	100.00
June	(2)--	88.00	92.00	100.00	88.00	100.00
July	74.00	82.00	92.00	100.00	96.00	100.00
August	76.00	80.50	88.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
September	83.80	80.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
October	75.00	85.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
November	70.90	80.40	94.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
December	34.90	74.00	88.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
1999
January	82.90	61.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
February	64.90	61.50	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
March	38.00	59.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
April	39.30	42.00	83.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
May	39.30	32.00	80.00	100.00	82.00	100.00

(2) Figures not currently available

Personal callers seen within 45 minutes Percentage

Month	London(3)	Liverpool	Peterborough	Newport	Glasgow	Belfast
1997
September	61.00	70.00	83.00	100.00	80.00	100.00
October	63.00	100.00	95.00	100.00	95.80	100.00
November	71.00	81.00	100.00	100.00	97.00	100.00
December	42.00	79.00	92.00	100.00	97.00	100.00
1998
January	85.00	87.00	100.00	100.00	90.00	100.00
February	58.50	95.50	100.00	100.00	92.00	100.00
March	66.00	96.80	97.00	100.00	92.00	100.00
April	89.21	96.60	97.00	100.00	98.50	100.00
May	57.90	77.60	86.00	100.00	84.00	100.00
June	(4)--	83.80	87.00	100.00	81.00	100.00
July	74.00	57.45	82.00	100.00	90.70	100.00
August	76.00	60.50	70.00	100.00	98.00	100.00
September	83.80	67.80	90.00	100.00	97.00	100.00
October	75.00	72.95	81.00	100.00	97.00	100.00
November	70.90	59.75	90.00	100.00	99.00	100.00
December	34.90	59.05	75.00	100.00	98.00	100.00
1999
January	82.90	53.25	100.00	100.00	98.50	100.00
February	64.90	56.10	90.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
March	38.00	54.00	85.00	100.00	98.00	100.00
April	39.30	18.00	70.00	100.00	96.00	100.00
May	39.30	8.00	60.00	100.00	65.00	100.00

(3) London office target is 60 minutes (figures reported above are against that target)

(4) Figures not currently available

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 111

29 Jun 1999 : Column: 113

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if performance-related pay forms part of the remuneration of the Chief Executive of the UK Passport Agency; and if he will make a statement. [88886]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Remuneration for the Chief Executive is linked to the Senior Civil Service pay arrangements and no separate bonus is payable.

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time taken by the UK Passport Agency to send a formal response to complaints in each month in 1999 and at the most recent date for which information is available. [88885]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK Passport Agency monitors its performance on responding to complaints on a quarterly basis, in terms of the percentage of complaints receiving a formal response within ten working days. Monthly statistics are not available. In the last quarter (January--March 1999), the UK Passport Agency sent a formal response to complaints within ten working days in 93 per cent. of cases.

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