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Immigration Service
Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the cost of (a) Immigration Service personnel (i) in ports, (ii) in Croydon and (iii) abroad and (b) immigration appeal adjudicators and tribunals, in the last three years for which figures are available. [118056]
Mrs. Roche: The total cost to the Home Office for Immigration Service personnel was £89 million for 1999-2000, £84.6 million for 1998-99 and £84.5 million for 1997-98. A detailed breakdown is provided in the table:
| £ million | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | |
| Total | 84.5 | 84.6 | 89.0 |
| In Ports | 81.8 | 81.0 | 84.2 |
| In Croydon | 2.5 | 3.3 | 4.2 |
| Abroad | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
Notes:
1. Figures for Immigration Service staff abroad are for Airline Liaison Officers. Costs of Immigration Officers/Chief Immigration Officers at Entry Clearance Units are not available.
2. Costs are for salaries and on costs, but exclude accommodation.
3. 1999-2000 figures are estimated final outturn.
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The costs of the immigration appeals adjudicators and tribunals are a matter for the Lord Chancellor's Department/Court Service.
Jill Dando Murder Investigation
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2000, Official Report, column 484W, for what reason the number of police officers working on the Jill Dando murder investigation has been reduced; and if he will make a statement on future numbers. [118306]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The number of police officers deployed on any murder investigation is an operational matter for the relevant Chief Officer of Police, in this case the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
The Commissioner tells me that the size of the team investigating Jill Dando's death is subject to regular management review to ensure the efficient and effective progression of the investigation.
Police Stations
Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each constituency in Shropshire the police stations indicating those which served rural communities, which were (a) downgraded, (b) closed and (c) opened (i) between 1979 to 1997 and (ii) since May 1997. [118542]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I have been advised by West Mercia Constabulary in this operational matter. The answer is given in the table.
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(23) Between 1979 and 1997
(24) From May 1997 onward
(25) Since May 1997
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Prison Visits
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the use of telephone booking systems for arranging visits to inmates in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [118491]
Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service recognises that telephone booking systems can be an effective tool in managing and allocating the huge number of booked visits which prison establishments have to organise on a daily basis. An increasing number of prisons are developing Information Technology systems for this purpose. The Prison Service has completed a study into the use of telephone booking systems for social and official visits to prisoners, the findings of which have informed the production of a statement of business requirements for the introduction of a computerised visits booking system in all prisons.
The Prison Service is working, in partnership with the private sector, to develop the delivery of improved services through the effective use of Information Technology. One of the aims of this project is the provision of efficient, responsive, customer focused public services, and booked visits are included within the scope of the services to be provided. The Prison Service is in the process of developing the timetable for this work.
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Animal Experiments
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many animals were allowed into the United Kingdom during the last 12 months for use in experiments; and what requirements must be met for such animals to be allowed entry into the United Kingdom. [118488]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Home Office does not record centrally the number of animals imported into the United Kingdom for use in scientific procedures. However, Table 2 of the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals", published annually in separate volumes for Great Britain and Northern Ireland, records the number of scientific procedures carried out, analysed by Schedule 2 listed species and source of animals. Animals listed in Schedule 2 to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 can only be acquired from designated breeding or supplying establishments for use in procedures authorised under the Act unless the Secretary of State has granted a specific exemption.
Table 2 identifies animals obtained from non-United Kingdom sources broken down between those acquired within the European Union and those acquired from outside the European Union. The statistics for 1999 are
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currently being collated and will be published in July. The statistics for 1998 show that the total numbers of animals acquired from non-United Kingdom sources were:
| From European Union sources | From non-European Union sources | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | 6,800 | 14,745 | 21,545 |
| Northern Ireland | 28 | 4 | 32 |
| Total | 6,828 | 14,749 | 21,577 |
The following criteria are applied in deciding applications for such exemptions: no suitable animals must be available from designated breeding or supplying establishments within the United Kingdom; the overseas source must be judged to be of good repute; and travel and import controls must be met. Welfare issues involved in the import of animals from abroad, such as journey times, are also considered as part of the Home Office cost/benefit assessment for project licences.
Prisoners (Religious Services)
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason inmates in prisons in England and Wales have to make application to attend religious services; and if he will make a statement. [118489]
Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service respects the need for all prisoners to be free to practice their religion and makes provision for prisoners to participate in worship.
That participation is voluntary so numbers can vary and are often quite high. In order, therefore, to ensure proper security arrangements are in place and access and movement is satisfactory, prisoners in some prisons are asked to make applications to attend religious services.
Such applications are not intended to compromise the prisoner's access to worship but to ensure the worship is safe and trouble free.
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