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Millennium Compliance
(Kent Emergency Services)
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the computer systems in use by the Kent Fire Brigade are millennium compliant and that emergency services will not be affected on 1 January 2000. [89186]
Mr. George Howarth: The millennium preparedness of all fire brigades in England and Wales is subject to independent assessment by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. The results, together with independent assessments of the millennium preparedness of the other emergency services and other key sectors of the national infrastructure, were reported to the Action 2000 National Infrastructure Forum on 21 April. Her Majesty's Inspectorate reported then that they expected all fire brigades in England and Wales to be fully prepared by September at the latest. That remains the case. The latest state of preparedness of each fire brigade will be reported at the next National Infrastructure Forum on 13 July, following which, I will forward further details to my hon. Friend.
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to ensure that the computer systems in use by the Kent Police are millennium compliant and that law enforcement activities will not be affected on 1 January 2000. [89187]
Mr. Boateng:
It is important that all police forces in England and Wales take every measure to ensure year 2000 compliance. The Home Office has commissioned an Independent Assessment of all forces, including Kent, by
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Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The results of this survey will be published at the National Infrastructure Forum on 13 July.
Mr. Mullin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 24 June 1999,
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Official Report, column 428, what proportion of prisoners is confined for more than 22 hours a day in HMP (a) Birmingham, (b) Liverpool, (c) Dartmoor, (d) Feltham and (e) Swansea. [89287]
Mr. George Howarth:
The precise numbers vary from day to day. The table gives the position on 29 June 1999.
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| Establishment | Total population (1) | Number of prisoners locked up for more than 22 hours | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 1,070 | 476 | 44 | 8 for good order and discipline, 36 patients in the health care centre. |
| The population of 1,070 is 336 more than Birmingham's certified normal accommodation and the shortage of out of cell activity is one result of holding this number of additional prisoners. | ||||
| Liverpool | 1,411 | 2 | 0.1 | 1 for good order and discipline, 1 refuses to leave the segregation unit. |
| Dartmoor | 594 | 27 | 4.5 | 7 for good order and discipline, 10 held in segregation at own request, 10 unemployed. They are being encouraged to apply for work vacancies. |
| Feltham | 799 | 13 | 1.6 | All for good order and discipline. |
| Swansea | 320 | 1 | 0.3 | Patient in health care centre unfit for work or association. |
(1) This figure is the 'unlock figure', that is, the actual number of prisoners held in the establishment on the morning of 29 June.
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Police Forces (Minority Group Consultation)
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has issued to police forces about consultation with minority groups in the communities which they serve; and if he will list those forces which have established procedures for liaison with (a) ethnic minorities, (b) lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, (c) disabled people and (d) transsexual and transgendered people. [89159]
Mr. Boateng: In December 1996, the Home Office Police Research Group published a report "It's Good to Talk: lessons in public consultation and feedback". This report looked at good practice in consultation and feedback on policing and provided advice to police authorities and forces in deciding how to undertake their consultation arrangements. It set out a matrix methodology to help each force and authority decide on the most appropriate arrangements, and included advice on how to consult with minority groups--particularly those who found it difficult to take part in the more formal consultation processes.
Extensive guidance has been issued on the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which imposed new duties on police forces and local authorities to form partnerships to deal with crime and disorder. Consultation with local communities is a major aspect of these new duties and the guidance gives advice on the involvement of minority groups.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's thematic report on police community and race relations "Winning the Race", published in October 1997, and the follow-up report "Winning the Race--Revisited", published in March 1999, also made recommendations on a number of issues including the need to have sound and representative public consultation processes--with particular reference to minority groups.
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A survey of all forces undertaken as part of the inspection revealed that at the time of the second inspection (September 1998), 93 per cent. of forces had a strategy in place to consult minority groups. The remaining forces are developing their own strategies. Such strategies will not necessarily be specific to any one group but will encompass all groups within the local community. The issue will be looked at again when Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary carries out a further inspection of race and community relations in 2000.
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has published guidelines for the police in dealing with gay and lesbian communities which includes advice on consultation arrangements.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people served in the special constabulary of each police force in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [89552]
Mr. Boateng:
As at 31 March, the figures for the number of special constables in post in each police force area in England and Wales for the past five years were:
(2) The figures for 31 March 1999 are provisional
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Motorway Accidents (Vehicle Removal)
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal basis exists (a) for the warning by the Association of Chief Police Officers that vehicles in motorway accidents or which have broken down must be removed within 30 minutes and (b) for the police to engage their own contractors and charge the owners to remove vehicles after this time limit; when these provisions will come into effect; and if he will make a statement. [89553]
Mr. Boateng: Police powers to arrange for the removal of vehicles from motorways are contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Removal and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 1986. Under this legislation, the precise arrangements adopted by police forces for the safe recovery of vehicles from the motorway including the engagement of contractors to carry out this work are an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.
In view of the increasing traffic flows on motorways and the associated dangers the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) issued guidelines in May this year which reduced the period of leeway which the police allow for the removal of vehicles from the motorway from two hours to 30 minutes. A memorandum of understanding has recently been agreed between the four main motoring organisations and ACPO whereby Greenflag, the Royal Automobile Club, Automobile Association and Britannia will aim to attend the scene of a breakdown on the motorway within 30 minutes.
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