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Police Manpower (National Insurance)
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has received on the effect of changes in national insurance contributions on police staffing levels in England in 2000-01. [105891]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Association of Police Authorities estimated that the cost to the police service in England and Wales of changes in national insurance contributions could be around £23 million in 1999-2000. These additional costs were taken into account when police authorities set their budgets for 1999-2000. It is for chief constables to determine staffing levels within the overall resources available to them.
Data Protection
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the phrase "any imposition of a similar nature", used in his answer of 8 April 1998, Official Report, column 262W, has the same meaning as in paragraph 10.5(f) of the White Paper on Interception of Communications in the United Kingdom (Cm 4368). [106059]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Yes. The intention is to provide a statutory framework to regulate the disclosure of communications data to investigating agencies. The grounds upon which disclosure of communications data may be required will be consistent with those contained in existing data protection legislation, and use of this power will be audited by an independent Commissioner, to ensure it is used only where necessary and proportionate to the matter under investigation. The new regime will also be governed by a statutory Code of Practice.
General Pinochet
Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what translation facilities were available to the medical team he appointed to examine General Pinochet; and if they were available throughout the medical examination; [106010]
- (2) what were the linguistic qualifications of the medical team he appointed to examine General Pinochet. [105919]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 20 January 2000]: Dr. Wyke is a native speaker of Spanish who came to this country after completing a first degree at the Autonomous National University of Mexico. Professor Lees speaks Spanish fluently to a professional standard; he makes frequent visits to Spain and other Spanish speaking countries to give university lectures, in Spanish, on his area of medical expertise.
The medical examination of Senator Pinochet was accordingly conducted in Spanish.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has held with the Government of Chile concerning the Spanish request for the extradition of General Pinochet; and if he will place correspondence relating to such discussions in the Library. [106017]
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 20W
Mr. Straw
[holding answer 20 January 2000]: I have not personally discussed this case, or corresponded about it, with the Government of Chile, or any of its representatives.
Some of my ministers and officials have had cause to do so. They have had strict regard to the fact that I am exercising a quasi-judicial function under the Extradition Act 1989. It is not our practice to make publicly available the contents of correspondence with other governments. The details of contacts of this nature are confidential to the governments concerned.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the terms of reference he gave the medical team he appointed to examine General Pinochet. [106007]
Mr. Straw
[holding answer 20 January 2000]: The medical team was asked to undertake the examinations and procedures it judged to be desirable in order to provide me with a fully comprehensive report on the state of Senator Pinochet's health.
The team was also asked, without in any way intending to limit the comprehensive scope of the commission, to advise whether there were any aspects of Senator Pinochet's state of health which, separately or together, would suggest that he is not at present fit, or is likely to become unfit, to stand trial in Spain. Particular attention was drawn to Senator Pinochet's ability to follow a line of questioning, to recall events, some of which took place as long ago as the 1970s, and to give coherent evidence.
The team was asked to advise on the extent to which the subjection of Senator Pinochet to a criminal trial would itself be likely to affect his health.
To the extent to which any of the contents of the team's report were to be influenced by observation of Senator Pinochet's conduct and manner, advice was also sought on the extent to which that conduct and manner were capable of being consciously influenced by the Senator himself.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish figures for the 12 months ending September 1998 on the (a) number of notifiable offences by police force area and by category of offence; and (b) percentages of notifiable offences in individual offence groups by police force area. [106531]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
It has not been possible to estimate totals for categories of offences at the police force level for the year ending September 1998 because of the change to new Home Office counting rules for recorded crime half way through the period.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the amount of non-reclaimable value-added tax which will have to be paid by the (a) National Crime Squad and (b) National Criminal Intelligence Service in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. [106533]
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 21W
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Estimates of VAT payments by the National Crime Squad (NCS) and the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) were £4.400 million and £2.068 million respectively for 1999-2000; and £5.310 million (NCS) and £2.304 million (NCIS) for 2000-01. Out-turn for 1999-2000 is likely to be slightly lower; and estimates for 2000-01 are likely to be reduced in the light of the levies I decided for the two organisations on 10 January. There is no current estimate for the costs of VAT for the two organisations for 2001-02.
Mr. Rapson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the viability of using aircraft carriers moored in Portsmouth as prison ships. [106174]
Mr. Boateng:
The Prison Service continuously monitors the projected population figures and makes best use of the available accommodation to contain prisoners in secure custody. The Service evaluates all practical options that present themselves. Consideration has not been given to the idea of using an aircraft carrier moored in Portsmouth harbour as a prison ship.
Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to respond to the letter of 20 December 1999 from the hon. Member for Poole on behalf of Benjamin Patrick Daniels. [106200]
Mrs. Roche:
I will reply to the hon. Member for Poole shortly.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 22 November regarding a constituent. [106201]
Mrs. Roche:
I wrote to my hon. Friend on 21 January. I am sorry for the delay.
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was taken to alter the plans for a 650 bed male prison at Ashford, Middlesex, to a 450 bed female prison. [106175]
Mr. Boateng:
Ministerial endorsement to the construction on the Ashford site of a 450 place prison to hold female prisoners was formally given in March 1998.
Mr. Sawford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost to public funds of asylum seekers awaiting determination of their case in each of the last five years. [105993]
Mrs. Roche:
Until 1999 (when responsibility transferred to the Home Office) asylum support costs were divided between the Department of Social Security and the Department of Health. In 1998-99, asylum support cost £470 million, of which £280 million was borne by the Department of Social Security. In 1997-98, asylum support
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 22W
cost £375 million, of which £305 million was borne by the Department of Social Security. In 1996-97, asylum support cost £412.7 million of which £400 million was borne by the Department of Social Security. In 1994-95 and 1995-96 asylum support costs were met by the Department of Social Security. These costs were £360 million and £420 million respectively. Changes to the Department of Social Security benefits in 1996 removed support to those asylum seekers who applied for support "in country". Support for asylum seekers was made available under the terms of the National Assistance Act 1948. With effect from 1996-97 local authorities were reimbursed for their expenditure through a special grant administered by the Department of Health.
Mr. Sawford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average waiting time for asylum seekers between arrival in the United Kingdom and determination of their case, in each of the last five years; [105994]
Mrs. Roche:
As at the end of November 1999, 98,045 asylum applications were awaiting an initial decision.
(2) how many asylum seekers are awaiting determination of their case; and how many were awaiting determination at the end of each of the last five years. [105992]
| Average length of decision time(3) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | All applications(2) | Applications lodged pre July 1993 | Applications lodged post July 1993 | Applications outstanding at the end of the year(4) |
| 1994 | 17 | 28 | 6 | 55,255 |
| 1995 | 18 | 42 | 9 | 69,650 |
| 1996 | 17 | 53 | 12 | 57,405 |
| 1997 | 22 | 65 | 15 | 51,795 |
| 1998 | 17 | 79 | 12 | 64,770 |
(2) Excluding dependants
(3) The average length of time (in months) is calculated from when data application is lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the year in which the decisions were made
(4) Figures rounded to the nearest 5
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