| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Domestic Violence
Ms Moran:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to
9 Nov 1999 : Column: 468
police authorities in respect of the concession in immigration law on the one year rule in respect of domestic violence. [97372]
Mrs. Roche:
The Secretary to the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Standing Committee on the Disclosure of Convictions was notified at the same time as the concession was announced so that all Chief Police Officers could, in turn, be advised that the concession was operational. This is now being taken forward through ACPO procedures. ACPO's Standing Committee had previously agreed that immigration caseworkers could make written inquiries of the criminal records office of individual police headquarters about cautions for domestic violence. Referral forms and procedures were agreed with ACPO.
Ms Moran:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to Women's Aid and other agencies regarding the concession in immigration law on the one year rule in respect of domestic violence. [97373]
Mrs. Roche:
No specific notification was sent to Women's Aid but Southall Black Sisters, who were involved in discussions about the proposed concession, were sent details when it was announced. Information about the concession can be found in the Immigration Directorate Instructions. These are available on the Home Office Internet website and a copy is also available in the Library.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women died as a result of domestic violence in each of the last three years for which figures were available; and if he will make a statement. [97450]
Mr. Boateng:
Details of homicides held centrally do not enable those cases preceded by domestic violence to be separately identified.
| Male victims | Female victims | |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 38 | 92 |
| 1996 | 26 | 92 |
| 1997 | 34 | 105 |
A Home Office Research, Development and Statistics project has looked at domestic homicides in West Yorkshire between 1994 and 1997, based on data provided by the police. The aim of this study included an exploration of the links between domestic violence histories of offenders and domestic homicides. A draft report is currently in preparation; it is anticipated that a final report will be produced next year.
Immigration Detainees
Mr. Sarwar:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently
9 Nov 1999 : Column: 469
detained under the Immigration Acts in (a) detention centres, (b) Prison Service establishments and (c) other accommodation. [97576]
Mrs. Roche:
The latest available information, relating to the snapshot of all persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers, by location, on 30 September 1999, is given in the table.
| Location | Total detainees |
|---|---|
| Immigration detention centres (5) | |
| Campsfield House | 174 |
| Dover Harbour | 27 |
| Harmondsworth | 90 |
| Harwich | 2 |
| Heathrow's Queens building | 15 |
| Longport | 5 |
| Manchester airport | 7 |
| Tinsley House | 142 |
| Other immigration centres | 1 |
| Prison establishments | |
| Aberdeen | 8 |
| Bedford | 3 |
| Belmarsh | 10 |
| Birmingham | 2 |
| Blakenhurst | 5 |
| Brixton | 3 |
| Canterbury | 15 |
| Dorchester | 2 |
| Durham | 2 |
| Elmley | 5 |
| Feltham | 5 |
| Gloucester | 2 |
| Haslar | 157 |
| High Down | 16 |
| Holloway | 16 |
| Holme House | 2 |
| Lancaster Farms | 2 |
| Leeds | 5 |
| Liverpool | 4 |
| Longriggend | 18 |
| Manchester | 7 |
| Norwich | 2 |
| Pentonville | 10 |
| Preston | 2 |
| Rochester | 191 |
| Swansea | 2 |
| Wandsworth | 5 |
| Winchester | 3 |
| Woodhill | 2 |
| Wormwood Scrubs | 7 |
| Other prison establishments | 9 |
| Total | 985 |
(4) Figures exclude persons detained in police cells (other than at Dover Harbour)
(5) Figures include the use of police cells at Dover Harbour
Freedom of Information
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the draft Freedom of Information Bill to ensure that non- departmental public bodies are required to disclose information explaining the bases of their decisions to allocate financial resources. [97365]
9 Nov 1999 : Column: 470
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The draft Freedom of Information Bill provides that all public authorities, including non-departmental public bodies, are required to disclose information they hold, subject to the conditions and exemptions set out in the draft Bill. Even where information is exempted information, the changes to the draft Bill which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dudley, South (Mr. Pearson), Official Report, 21 October 1999, column 624, will mean that a public authority will have to consider the public interest in disclosing information when considering whether to exercise the discretionary authority to disclose.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek compensation from the suppliers of software to the Probation Service. [97550]
Mr. Boateng:
The suppliers of the case management software to the Probation Service are contractually obliged to deliver a Year 2000 compliant version of that software by the end of November. Although there was some delay, earlier this year, in progress against plan in the development of that software, the suppliers are now back on schedule to achieve this.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since 1 May 1997 local authorities have (a) refused to allow the screening of films cleared by the British Board of Film Classification and (b) permitted the screening of films deemed unsuitable for screening by the British Board of Film Classification. [97593]
Mr. Boateng
[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Under the cinema licensing regime provided by the Cinemas Act 1985, local authorities have the power to determine whether particular films may be shown in cinemas in their area. I understand that local authorities generally require cinemas to abide by the classification certificate issued by the British Board of Film Classification and that decisions not to do so are rare. Records of their decisions are not held centrally.
Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the textile, clothing and footwear produced within HM Prisons is sold at normal commercial prices for goods of comparable quality; and what measures are in place to ensure that this is done. [97959]
Mr. Boateng:
Clothing, textiles and footwear are sold at normal commercial prices. Products are costed using an industry-recognised costing software package. Allowance is made for the lower productivity levels achieved in prison workshops. These prices are compared with commercially available statistics to check that they are in line with normal wholesale prices.
Judy Mallaber:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual sales turnover of textile, clothing and footwear products produced within HM Prisons broken down between those consumed
9 Nov 1999 : Column: 471
by (a) the Prison Service, (b) other Government Departments, (c) local authorities and (d) the private sector in each of the last five years. [97958]
Mr. Boateng:
The breakdown of sales for textiles and footwear products from prison workshops for the year 1989-99 is given in the table. Figures are not available for previous years due to a change in reporting procedures.
| Sales of textiles and footwear from prison workshops 1998-99 | £ |
|---|---|
| Textiles | |
| Prison Service | 12,647,801 |
| Other Government Departments/Agencies | 650,143 |
| Local Authorities | 2,700 |
| Private Sector | 129,800 |
| Total | 13,430,444 |
| Footwear | |
| Prison Service | 2,025,977 |
| Private Sector | 52,610 |
| Total | 2,078,587 |
Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of HM Prisons are engaged in the production of textiles, clothing and footwear; and what was the annual turnover of such products in each establishment in the latest year for which information is available. [97957]
Mr. Boateng: There are 64 prison establishments involved in textiles and four in footwear. Turnover for textiles and footwear products for 1998-99 are given in the table.
9 Nov 1999 : Column: 472
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |