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Manchester Metrolink
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in respect of the Manchester Metrolink light rail scheme; and if he will make a statement. [116206]
Mr. Prescott: Following the announcement in the Budget of an extra £280 million for transport spending, we intend to provide funding for the three extensions to the Manchester Metrolink for which Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has sought public funding. This is subject to formal completion of the project appraisal and agreement of the overall funding package. We expect that package to include a local contribution to the costs of the scheme. I shall make further announcements about the other elements of our package of additional transport spending shortly.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Asylum Seekers
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the tendering process for the scheme to provide vouchers for asylum seekers; how many firms bid for the contract; on what basis was the contract awarded to Sodexho Pass International; what is the duration and cost of the contract with Sodexho Pass International; what profit margin is built in to the contract; and if he will publish the contract. [114760]
Mrs. Roche: The cost of the tendering process for the new voucher scheme is not separately identifiable from the costs of other procurement activity undertaken in the course of establishing the new asylum support arrangements.
In response to an advertisement placed in the "Official Journal of the European Communities" (OJEC) on 10 July 1999, we received nine expressions of interest from prospective suppliers in designing and operating the voucher scheme. Four suppliers were subsequently invited to prepare detailed proposals as a basis for negotiation and three of these went forward to submit revised formal offers.
As anticipated in the OJEC, the decision to award the contract was taken with regard to the following factors: ability to achieve time scales; cost; technical competence; experience/ability; flexibility; commercial and financial strength; and, quality.
The initial duration of the contract is three years. This may be extended by two further one-year periods. Contractual details are commercially confidential.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received
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about the decision of the police to refuse to release to the media the names and addresses of people injured in road accidents; and if he will make a statement. [115299]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has received representations from the Director and Members of the Society of Editors about the Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines "Naming of Victims or Witnesses Involved in Crime, Road and other incidents", which he is carefully considering. A number of hon. Members have also made representations.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 162W, on anti- social behaviour orders, when the records of ASBOs will be collated centrally by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [115362]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
We will be writing to local magistrates courts committees during the next few weeks asking them to provide us with information concerning the number of orders granted at their courts. We will be collating this information centrally as soon as we receive the responses.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those powers of Europol whose extension is under discussion; and what is his policy in respect of them. [115620]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
At the European Council held in Tampere in October 1999, it was agreed that Europol's powers should be extended to cover money laundering in general, regardless of the type of offence from which the laundered proceeds originate. The Government welcome this proposal.
It was also agreed at Tampere that arrangements for the setting up of joint investigation teams, as envisaged in Article 30(2) of the Treaty of Amsterdam, should be put in place without delay, as a first step to combat trafficking in drugs and human beings as well as terrorism. The arrangements should allow representatives of Europol to participate, as appropriate, in the joint teams in a support capacity. It is not envisaged that Europol's mandate will need to be extended to give effect to this conclusion.
There are no other current proposals to extend Europol's powers.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average dimensions of the force crest on police cars in England and Wales; and what is the size of the (a) largest and (b) smallest crest on the side of police cars in England and Wales. [115570]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
We do not collect this information from forces.
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Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each prison establishment are held (a) two to a cell in a single cell and (b) three to a cell in a double cell. [115614]
Mr. Boateng:
The average number of prisoners for the financial year April 1999 to February 2000 held two in a single cell in each prison establishment is listed in the table. The Prison Service does not collect data on the number of prisoners held three in a double cell.
These data are provisional and are subject to validation by prisons.
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Secure Units
Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to divide prison establishments into smaller units. [115626]
Mr. Boateng: The Woolf Report recommended that prisons should be divided into small and manageable secure units. Since the Report was published, the Prison Service has focused upon this need when designing both new prison buildings (public and private) and new houseblocks (extensions of existing prisons). It is also a consideration when refurbishing existing prison accommodation--special attention is always given to improving the security of wings by adding new gates, control and restraint staircases and reinforcing the protection of roof spaces.
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