You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many units of accommodation the National Asylum Seekers Support Service has so far secured for housing destitute asylum seekers. [128558]

Mrs. Roche: As of 30 June the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) had placed 3,028 destitute asylum seekers into accommodation. The process of accommodating destitute asylum seekers is of course demand led. The exact number of units available changes day by day as providers notify the service of properties. We are continuing to negotiate with both the public and private sector for further accommodation, but it was always the intention that accommodation providers would be asked to provide accommodation on a basis of need.

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed at the National Asylum Seekers Support Service. [128560]

Mrs. Roche: As of 30 June there were 433 staff employed in the National Asylum Support Service. Of these 423 are employed in Croydon. In addition there are 10 Regional Managers situated around the country who are responsible for ensuring that the support arrangements function satisfactorily in their area.

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to the Refugee Council on the establishment of emergency reception facilities for destitute asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [128559]

Mrs. Roche: Officials in the National Asylum Support Service have provided assistance to the Refugee Council in identifying suitable property and in contract negotiation where this has proved necessary. In addition, the Refugee Council has been given advice on the standards we expect to be met for emergency accommodation that is provided for destitute asylum seekers while their claim for support by the National Asylum Support Service is considered.

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases the National Asylum Seekers Support Service has so far (a) assessed and (b) referred to accommodation outside London. [128557]

Mrs. Roche: As of 30 June the National Asylum Support Service had received 5,327 applications for support. Not all of these would have included a request for accommodation. As of 30 June 3,212 asylum seekers including dependents had been dispersed to accommodation outside London.

Criminal Injuries Compensation

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the last review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme took place; what its conclusions were; when the next review is due; and if he will make a statement. [128537]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The scheme is under review at the present time. The review was launched by the issue last year of a consultation paper entitled "Compensation for Victims of Violent Crime: Possible Changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme". The responses to that public consultation exercise are still under consideration, and we hope to be in a position to announce our intentions shortly after the summer recess.

5 Jul 2000 : Column: 234W

Prison Service

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the results achieved by the Prison Service on each of its key performance indicators during 1999-2000. [129194]

Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service is currently assembling final performance data for 1999-2000. The key performance indicator (KPI) results will be reported in the Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts which is scheduled to be laid before Parliament on 20 July 2000. Copies will be placed in the Library.

The provisional KPI results for 1999-2000 were given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Mitcham and Morden (Siobhain McDonagh) on 18 May 2000, Official Report, columns 210-12W.

Anti-suicide Strategy (Women Prisoners)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to produce an anti-suicide strategy relating to women in prison; and if he will make a statement. [128740]

Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service's current suicide awareness strategy came into effect from April 1994. Its main principles apply equally across all types of prisons and prisoners whether male/female, adult/young offender or remand/sentenced. This approach to caring for the suicidal is based upon sound research and draws upon best practice from within other organisations.

Strategies for reducing the risk of suicide are kept under continual review. The publication of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons thematic review: "Suicide is Everyone's Concern" last year provided a key impetus for this work. Work is in progress to examine how existing strategies can be better tailored to the needs of women prisoners. Guidance and good practice will be incorporated in a Prison Service order due for issue later this year.

Data Protection Act 1998

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates he has signed with respect to section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 since 1 March. [129186]

Mr. Straw: None. However, I expect to sign a certificate in the near future.

Death in Custody

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the investigations carried out into the death in custody of Nathan Graham by the (a) Governor of HM prison Whatton and (b) Nottinghamshire police. [128702]

Mr. Boateng: I am replying, as the Minister responsible for prisons.

An internal investigation into the death of Nathan Graham at Nottingham prison on 9 November 1999 was carried out by David Walmsley, Governor of Whatton prison. This is routine practice on behalf of the Prison Service and an investigation report of the findings has been compiled. This report was disclosed to Mr. Graham's

5 Jul 2000 : Column: 235W

family before the inquest. The report concluded that there were no grounds for any disciplinary action against prison staff.

An investigation into this death was also conducted by Nottinghamshire police on behalf of the Coroner, in view of the unusual circumstances of this case (Mr. Graham was disabled). There was no evidence of any criminal action in this matter and no charges were laid against prison staff. Mr. Graham's death was considered at a Coroner's inquest between 7-9 June, when it was adjourned. A date has yet to be set for the resumption of this inquest.

Holloway Prison

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the windows in cells in Holloway Prison will be changed to make it impossible to attach a ligature to them; and if he will make a statement. [128741]

Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service is currently testing prototype improved window ventilators at Holloway prison. These will be evaluated to assess all potential benefits, including the effectiveness of their anti-ligature properties. Following the assessment, funding will be sought through the Prison Service's normal capital appraisal process for installation of the most appropriate ventilators. Assuming these funds (likely to be of the order of £8 million) are forthcoming, a rolling installation programme for all cells at Holloway will be developed. Completion of such a programme could take three to four years.

Departmental Vehicles

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for his Department and its agencies the approved list of manufacturers of (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on his Department's leasing and purchasing policy. [128990]

Mr. Straw: The Home Department does not maintain a list of approved vehicle manufacturers. The Home Department accesses Ministry of Defence contracts to acquire its vehicles. The following list includes all mainstream British vehicle manufacturers.

Ministry of Defence contractors, cars and commercial vehicles, accessed by the Home Office:



5 Jul 2000 : Column: 236W

Departmental policy for the selection of vehicles has three main roots:


Football Hooligans

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are being made to inform football clubs of the identities of the football hooligans who were (a) detained and (b) deported from Euro 2000. [128156]

Mr. Straw: It is the intention of the Football Association, with the strong support of the Government, to seek life bans from their home grounds for any individual convicted of offences involving hooliganism at Euro 2000; this cannot, however, apply to the majority of those detained and deported, since it has been acknowledged by the Belgian authorities that many of those detained or deported were not guilty of any criminal offence.

It is intended that the Bill on football hooliganism which I announced on 4 July 2000, Official Report, columns 170-83, should include provisions better to permit the National Criminal Intelligence Service to transfer appropriate information to the Football Association.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many international restriction orders against football hooligans are in force in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [128151]

Mr. Straw: There are currently 106 people subject to international football banning orders in England and Wales; there is no equivalent legislation in Scotland or in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many international restriction orders have been made in each of the past 10 years. [128152]

Mr. Straw: There were 19 restriction orders imposed in 1990, four in 1991, two in 1992, none in 1993, one in each of 1994, 1995 and 1996, 10 in 1997, and 100 in 1998. In 1999, 18 restriction orders were imposed, as well as three international football banning orders, which replaced the restriction order under the terms of the Football (Offences and Disorder) Act 1999. So far 28 international football banning orders have so far been imposed in 2000.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those football hooligans deported from Euro 2000. [128157]

Mr. Straw: No, since it has been acknowledged by the Belgian authorities that many of those deported were not guilty of any criminal offence.

5 Jul 2000 : Column: 237W

Next Section Index Home Page