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Jill Dando Murder Investigation
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Jill Dando murder investigation has cost to date broken down into (a) salary, (b) expenses and (c) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [115238]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that, as of 16 March 2000, the salary costs of the officers employed on the Jill Dando murder investigation were approximately £1,342,000; expenses were approximately £26,000; and other costs approximately £542,000.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) full-time and (b) part- time police officers and (c) civilian police staff are working on the Jill Dando murder investigation. [115360]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has informed me that, as of 16 March 2000, the investigative team comprised 38 full-time police officers and seven full-time civilian staff. There are no part-time officers on the team.
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Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of prison places required within the prison Service in England and Wales over the next five years. [114994]
Mr. Boateng:
The estimate of the number of prison places required over the next five years is determined by the latest prison population projections, which were published on 10 February in Home Office Statistical Bulletin No. 2/00, "Projections of Long Term Trends in the Prison Population to 2007", a copy of which is available in the Library and a summary of which is available on the Home Office website http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ index.htm. The projection provides three variants. The projected average prison population for each of the next five years for the central variant is given in the table.
| Year | Central variant |
|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | 65,300 |
| 2000-01 | 68,100 |
| 2001-02 | 70,100 |
| 2002-03 | 70,800 |
| 2003-04 | 71,300 |
| 2004-05 | 71,900 |
Peat Compost
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February 2000, Official Report, column 875W, on peat compost, what percentage of the compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when use of peat compost will be phased out on his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement. [115237]
Mr. Straw: No central records are kept of the amount or percentage of peat used on the Department's estate. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Department's Greening Operations Policy (published in 1998) and its Procurement Manual both state that peat free composts should be used and the current estimate is that if the Home Office makes any use of peat at all this is minimal.
Road Accident Victims
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers concerning the decision by the police to prevent the release of names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement. [115298]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
My officials have been in close contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Media Advisory Group which has been monitoring the effect and operation in practice of the ACPO guidelines "Naming of Victims or Witnesses
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Involved in Crime, Road and other Incidents". ACPO is currently reviewing the application of the guidance. Initial findings are expected to emerge by Easter.
Mr. Wood:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by each police force in England and Wales, and in total, on the purchase of CS gas in the year April 1998 to March 1999. [115093]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The quantities of CS incapacitant spray purchased by police forces in England and Wales is a matter for individual Chief Constables. The amount purchased and total expenditure are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses in reaching decisions on whether to refer decisions on tariffs for prisoners to the Lord Chief Justice for determination. [115415]
Mr. Boateng:
The statement made by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to Parliament on 13 March 2000, Official Report, columns 21-24, announced transitional tariff-setting arrangements for those sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure. Under those arrangements, detainees whose tariffs have not expired will be invited to make representations to the Lord Chief Justice. Where they do so, he will consider them and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State who will then regard himself as bound to set fresh tariffs no higher than those recommended by the Lord Chief Justice.
The tariff-setting arrangements for adult murderers remain unaltered. The Secretary of State will continue to set their tariffs after considering a report from the trial judge, the judicial recommendations on tariff and any representations from the prisoner on the tariff information disclosed to him.
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which towns with populations of less than 200,000 have been awarded city status since 1970. [115713]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
There have been four grants of city status since 1970. Of these, St. David's and Armagh, both granted city status in 1994 in recognition of their long and venerable Christian traditions, have populations of less than 200,000.
Ms Coffey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what pilot schemes of innovative electoral procedures he has approved for the May local elections. [115903]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
I am making orders to enable the following pilot schemes to take place at this May's local elections:
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Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what powers are available to him governing the movement of monkeys from holding centres to research establishments; what documentation must be provided to allow such movements; and if he will make a statement; [115731]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
I am advised that most of the animals were pre-allocated to purchasers on arrival at Shamrock Farm. The remaining animals are in the process of being allocated now. The establishment will remain open and continue to be licensed and regularly inspected until this process has been completed and all of the animals have been removed. I understand that there will be no surplus animals.
The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires both dispatching and receiving establishments in the United Kingdom to keep detailed records of the source and disposal of animals moving from one location to another. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food regulates the transportation of live animals, including primates. The Welfare of Animals (Transport)
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Order 1997, which is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, requires that the animals must be fit to travel, carried in a way that does not cause injury or unnecessary suffering, and be accompanied by someone competent to look after their welfare.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations were carried out in 1999 under the Animal Scientific Procedures Act 1986; how many of these revealed that a criminal offence had been committed; and if he will make a statement. [115732]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate carried out one major investigation commissioned by the Secretary of State in 1999. This was the Harlan UK investigation. My reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr. Ladyman) on 8 March 2000, Official Report, columns 661-62W, reported the outcome of that investigation.
Amber Valley--extension of entitlement to postal vote
Blackburn with Darwen--early voting
Blackpool--early voting
Bolton--all postal ballot
Chester--early voting
Coventry--early voting
Doncaster--all postal ballot
Eastleigh--extension of entitlement to postal vote
Gateshead--all postal ballot
Gloucester--extension of entitlement to postal vote
Kingston upon Hull--early voting
Knowsley--early voting
Leeds--extended hours of poll
Manchester--early voting
Milton Keynes--extension of entitlement to postal vote
Mole Valley--extended hours of poll
Plymouth--early voting
Redditch--early voting
St. Helens--early voting
Stevenage--all postal ballot
Stoke-on-Trent--early voting
Sunderland--early voting and mobile voting
Swindon--all postal ballot
Wigan--all postal ballot
Windsor and Maidenhead--mobile early voting facility.
In addition, I hope to be able to make orders in relation to the following schemes very shortly:
Bury--electronic voting and counting
Norwich--all postal ballot, mobile polling facility and early voting
Salford--electronic voting and counting
Stratford--electronic voting and counting
Three Rivers--electronic counting
Watford--mobile polling facility, early voting, weekend voting and freepost facility.
(2) what steps he is taking to establish what will happen to monkeys held at the Shamrock Farm once that establishment is closed; and if he will make a statement. [115729]
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