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Police Vehicle Accidents
Ms Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in each of the last five years in accidents involving police vehicles while answering emergency calls. [119206]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Figures dealing with responses to emergency calls are not available centrally as statistics collate them together with accidents arising from pursuits. Information has been provided by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, to whom forces submit statistical returns.
| Year | Injuries | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 1,830(26) | 21(26) |
| 1995-96 | 2,169(26) | 21(26) |
| 1996-97 | 1,930(27) | 15(27) |
| 1997-98 | 2,123 | 15 |
| 1998-99 | 1,863(27) | 11(27) |
(26) Figures from three forces missing from the total
(27) Figures from one force missing from the total
Crime (Alcohol and Drugs)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of crimes committed by those under the influence of (a) alcohol and (b) heroin in each of the last three years. [118890]
Mr. Charles Clarke: Statistical data are collected on offences involving alcohol or illegal drugs only, not on offences which may have been committed under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. A report published in 1998 on research carried out during 1996 and 1997 on behalf of the Home Office by the University of
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Cambridge sheds light on the links between alcohol, drugs and crime, Further data collected during 1998 and 1999 are currently being analysed as part of the NEW-ADAM programme for interviewing and drug testing arrestees. It is hoped to publish the next set of full results in the first half of this year.
The research undertaken so far on drug testing of arrestees, based in five locations, indicates that three-quarters (74 per cent.) of arrestees had recently taken at least one illegal drug and/or alcohol prior to arrest. The proportion of arrestees testing positive for alcohol average 25 per cent., while that for heroin/opiates was 18 per cent. These findings confirm the supposition that offenders tend to be heavy consumers of drugs.
While this study considerably advances knowledge of drugs-crime links, it will always be difficult to calculate a single percentage figure reflecting precisely what proportion of all crime is alcohol- or drug-related.
Figures on drug offences in 1998 were published in February 2000 in Home Office Statistical Bulletin Number 3/00 "Drug seizure and offender statistics, United Kingdom, 1998". Some alcohol-related statistics are also published. Figures on breath tests were published in Statistical Bulletin 16/99 "Breath Test Statistics, England and Wales, 1998", motoring offences in Statistical Bulletin 12/99 "Motoring Offences, England and Wales, 1997"; other offences involving alcohol are included in "Criminal Statistics England and Wales 1998" published in March 2000. Copies of all these publications are in the Library.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent in the past three years in prisons to deal with misuse of (a) illegal drugs and (b) alcohol. [118887]
Mr. Boateng: Information is readily available only about spending on elements of the drug strategy which are co-ordinated centrally. The figures are:
1997-98: £9 million
1998-99: £9 million and, following the Comprehensive Spending Review,
1999-2000: £31.5 million.
In addition, establishments will have funded locally driven drugs and alcohol initiatives, details of which are not collected centrally.
Probation Service
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will continue with the second phase of the Probation Information Technology programme called Copernicus; and if he will make a statement [119333]
Mr. Boateng: Yes. Phase 2 of the Copernicus project is under way.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many probation properties have clear legal titles in England and Wales; [119330]
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Mr. Boateng: The current value of the probation non-hostel estate in England and Wales is estimated to be in the region of £52 million. Further work will be undertaken to verify the legal titles of all premises used by probation services in England and Wales, and until then it is not possible to quantify property holdings that do not have clear titles.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who he commissioned to develop a Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; what were the principal conclusions of that strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119327]
- (2) what consultations he has had with probation organisations prior to the decision to accept the recommendations in the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119297]
(3) what representations he has received concerning the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119296]
(4) if he will publish the cost/benefit analysis for the options contained in the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119295]
(5) if he will publish the business case for the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [119294]
(6) if he will make a statement on the implications of the Audit Commission studies of the management of the police estate and local authority estate for the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy; and if he will make a statement. [119298]
Mr. Boateng: The Probation Estate Transitional Strategy was an internal document produced by officials in the Home Office. It drew on the advice provided by a consultants' report, but was not dependent upon that report. Prior to and during the formulation of the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy, Home Office officials consulted with the principal probation management organisations, Central Probation Council (CPC) and Association of Chief Officers of Probation (ACOP), who are represented through the Probation Estate Advisory Committee. Some 10 representations concerning the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy have been received, from probation committees/boards and from the probation organisations, CPC and ACOP. Forty six probation services also responded to a request for comments on the consultants' area survey reports.
A business case and cost/benefit analysis are contained in the consultant's report which will be published in due course and a copy placed in the Library.
In 1999, the Audit Commission published "Action Stations--a management handbook on improving the management of the police estate". Management of the much smaller national probation estate presents a very different set of issues, but as much of the good practice guidance has generic application to all property management, it provides a useful reference source/guide.
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Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what claims he expects for compensation from companies who are unsuccessful in bidding for the Case Recording and Management System for Probation Service in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [119301]
Mr. Boateng: Any procurement for Information Technology for a new case recording and management system for probation services in England and Wales will be conducted in accordance with regulations and, therefore, there would be no grounds for compensation.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will authorise a further version of the Case Recording and Management System for the Probation Service in England and Wales to take into account the changes contained in the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill; and if he will make a statement. [119300]
Mr. Boateng: Work is currently under way to consider the implications of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill for Probation Service Information Technology systems.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the assessment conducted by Amey Vecta Ltd. on the effectiveness of probation information technology in Merseyside; and if he will make a statement. [119299]
Mr. Boateng: This is an independent report commissioned by and prepared for Merseyside Probation Service. Publication is a matter for that Service.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if existing contracts to install and maintain probation information technology will be renewed; and if he will make a statement. [119430]
Mr. Boateng: The existing contracts for supply and maintenance run until the end of 2001. A new procurement will be undertaken for contracts thereafter.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to use the Private Finance Initiative in relation to the probation estate; and if he will make a statement. [119331]
Mr. Boateng: No decisions have been taken about the future financing of the probation estate in England and Wales as a whole and a range of options, including Private Finance Initiative (PFI), will be considered in due course. Local PFI initiatives are already being considered for probation services in Mid Glamorgan and Avon and Somerset.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what implications the Probation Estate Transitional Strategy has for staff levels; and if he will make a statement. [119332]
Mr. Boateng: The matter is under consideration at present. It will, however, be a matter for the new probation boards to determine their staffing needs.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the management of the Probation Estate will be the subject of external tenders in line with existing procurement rules; and if he will make a statement. [119329]
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Mr. Boateng: It is proposed that management of the probation estate be carried out by a dedicated central team. However, should any external specialised property management services be procured by this management team, then these will of course follow the procurement rules then in force.
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