| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Public Opinion (Young People)
19. Mr. Rowe: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the operation of the mechanisms in Wales for Government to ascertain the opinions of young people; and if he will make a statement. [136881]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend and I welcome the way in which the Assembly is taking forward a cross- cutting agenda for support for young people in Wales. They are undertaking extensive consultation with young people and those who work with them in the statutory and voluntary sectors, to develop a Welsh strategy for the young people of Wales.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 690W
NHS
20. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly on the NHS in Wales. [136882]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet the Assembly First Secretary and the Health Secretary to discuss Health issues in Wales.
In addition we are all members of the Joint Ministerial Committee for health. To date, we have met four times and the opportunities to share ideas are proving very useful.
Fuel Duty
22. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact of fuel duty on the Welsh economy. [136884]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a 2p reduction in duty on Ultra-Low Sulphur Fuel, petrol and diesel, on top of the 1p cut in the 2000 Budget. The Government are sympathetic to the needs of the whole UK economy. However, we also have a duty to environmental protection, and fuel duty and the Climate Change Levy have their part to play.
29. Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the impact of vehicle fuel duties on the rural economy in Wales. [136891]
Mr. Paul Murphy: In this year's Budget, the Government gave a commitment to ending the fuel duty escalator and that there would be no increase in fuel duty, beyond the automatic increase in line with inflation. Fuel duty revenues go straight into a ring-fenced fund for improving public transport and modernising the road network. Wales is allocated a percentage of such moneys on the basis of the funding rules, but it is for the National Assembly to determine how the money is spent.
Manufacturing Industry
23. Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent talks he has had with the First Secretary, concerning the prospects for manufacturing industry with particular reference to the steel industry; and if he will make a statement. [136885]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with my right hon. Friend the First Minister and discuss a number of issues, including the steel industry. The Government fully understand the importance of a successful manufacturing sector, and steel is making a vital contribution to the economy and employment.
Manufacturing output in Wales in the four quarters to the second quarter of 2000 was 4.2 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of 1999 and 7 per cent. higher than in 1995.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 691W
Renewable Energy
24. Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the development of renewable energy in Wales. [136886]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with my Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. Both the UK Government and the National Assembly for Wales support the development of renewable energy as a sustainable energy source for the future.
Children's Commissioner
25. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the First Minister of the National Assembly for Wales on the Government's legislative programme in respect of the Children's Commissioner for Wales. [136887]
Mr. Hanson: Since February this year, following the publication of the North Wales Child Abuse report, the First Minister and I have been in touch constantly about the legislation required to implement the post of Children's Commissioner.
Hospital Waiting Times
26. Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary and the Welsh Health Secretary on the number of people waiting over 18 months for an operation. [136888]
Mr. Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I regularly meet the Assembly First Secretary and the Health Secretary to discuss health issues in Wales.
Moreover, we have all attended meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee on health at which waiting lists and times have been discussed.
On 23 November, the National Assembly will launch the report of the Waiting Times Strategy Group. This will identify a wide range of recommendations to assist in reducing waiting lists/times.
Ambulance Services
28. Mrs. Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representatives he has received concerning the inclusion of the ambulance service in Wales within a UK wide inspection system for ambulance services. [136890]
Rural Economy
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what impact the increases on fuel duty and Vehicle Excise Duty have had on the economy of rural Wales [136878]
Mr. Paul Murphy: In this year's Budget, the Government gave a commitment to ending the fuel duty escalator and that there would be no increase in fuel duty, beyond the automatic increase in line with inflation. Fuel duty revenues go straight into a ring-fenced fund for improving public transport and modernising the road network. Wales is allocated a percentage of such moneys on the basis of the spending rules, but it is for the National
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 692W
Assembly to determine whether the money is spent on transport or on other priorities. Our Budget plans for next year promise an abolition of vehicle excise duty (VED) on agricultural machines which will benefit owners of up to 15,000 such machines in Wales, currently paying £40.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Royal Institute of International Affairs
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the degree of access to confidential Government (a) documents and (b) briefings afforded to senior members and staff of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. [136246]
Mr. Robin Cook: I have been asked to reply.
All confidential Government documents and briefings are managed under established procedures, which apply without exemption.
We have regular exchanges with the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) and other similar organisations on many aspects of foreign policy, both privately and publicly.
Ministers and officials participate in RIIA hosted meetings. According to Chatham House, meetings of the Institute may be held "on the record" or under the Chatham House Rule. When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speakers, nor that of any other participant, may be revealed; nor may it be mentioned that the information was received at a meeting of the Institute.
Remand Prisoners
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken in the past three months to install more safe cells for remand prisoners. [137714]
Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service has developed a safer cell design, which provides protection for those at risk of self-harm. Since 1996, a total of 185 cells have been installed to this "improved cell" standard. 1,088 cells in the new prisons at Forest Bank and Ashfield--Design, Construction, Management and Finance (DCMF) prisons--reflect aspects of the new design requirements.
A strategy to introduce safer cell design features will be developed as part of a revised suicide prevention policy. There have been no improved cells installed since the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche), referred in an Adjournment debate to plans to include them in new houseblocks and prisons, 7 July 2000, Official Report, column 603. But the Prison Service has confirmed its intention to incorporate the safer cell designed features into some or all of the cells in new houseblocks being built in establishments. Two new DCMF prisons under construction at Dovegate and Rye Hill will provide 1,353 cells reflecting aspects of the new design requirement.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 693W
Prisons
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there are on night duty in each prison holding juveniles; and what the staff to prisoner ratio is in such prisons on night shifts. [137723]
Mr. Boateng: The table shows the night staffing figures for those establishments holding juveniles with the corresponding staff-to-prisoner ratio.
| Establishment | Number of staff | Staff to prisoner ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Ashfield | 26 | 1:15 |
| Brinsford | 6 | 1:36 |
| Castington | 13 | 1:37 |
| Feltham | 24 | 1:6.5 |
| Hollesley Bay: | ||
| Carlford Unit | 1 | 1:30 |
| Warren Hill | 3 | 1:61.6 |
| Huntercombe | 8 | 1:40 |
| Lancaster Farms | 13 | 1:38.3 |
| Onley | 5 | 1:43 |
| Portland | 19 | 1:30 |
| Stoke Heath | 5 | 1:58.7 |
| Thorn Cross | 9 | 1:30 |
| Werrington | 6 | 1:17.6 |
| Wetherby | 8 | 1:45 |
| Female establishments holding under 18's | ||
| Brockhill | 6 | 1:27 |
| Bullwood Hall | 7 | 1:26 |
| Brake Hall | 8 | 1:33 |
| Holloway | 28 | 1:19 |
| Low Newton | 7 | 1:30 |
| New Hall | 10 | 1:32 |
| Styal | 16 | 1:26 |
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 694W
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the jurisdiction of HM Inspectorate of Prisons, Probations and the Prisons Ombudsman extends to Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. [137799]
Mr. Boateng: The authority of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Probation and the Prisons Ombudsman covers England and Wales only. However, both the Prisons and Probation Inspectorates have on occasion carried out inspections at the request of the Islands' authorities.
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the ethnic composition is of (a) staff and (b) prisoners in each prison which holds juvenile offenders. [137722]
Mr. Boateng: The answer is given in the tables.
| Percentage of staff who have declared their ethnicity | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Total SIP | White | Asian | Black | Other ethnic groups |
| Total | 4,252 | 96.4 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 |
| Ashfield | 267 | 96.3 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Brinsford | 372 | 93.0 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 0.3 |
| Castington | 343 | 99.4 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Feltham | 633 | 88.7 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 1.1 |
| Hollesley Bay | 326 | 99.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| Huntercombe | 250 | 96.3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Lancaster Farms | 359 | 99.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Onley | 387 | 96.9 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 |
| Portland | 319 | 99.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Stoke Heath | 387 | 97.2 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Thorn Cross | 216 | 99.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Werrington | 154 | 98.6 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Wetherby | 239 | 99.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 693W
| Percentage of Ethnic group(3) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Population(2) | White | Black | South Asian(4) | Chinese and Other(5) | Not known |
| Juvenile establishments | 5,243 | 80.2 | 12.9 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 0.1 |
| Ashfield | 362 | 85.6 | 10.6 | 0.5 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
| Brinsford | 460 | 74.7 | 18.4 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 0.3 |
| Castington | 247 | 98.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Feltham | 724 | 48.8 | 37.8 | 4.8 | 8.5 | 0.1 |
| Hollesley Bay | 334 | 74.1 | 17.3 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 0.0 |
| Huntercombe | 352 | 56.9 | 35.1 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 0.0 |
| Lancaster Farms | 494 | 92.7 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Onley | 593 | 72.0 | 21.4 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Portland | 501 | 76.9 | 17.1 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Stoke Heath | 562 | 92.8 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Thorn Cross | 237 | 86.9 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 0.0 |
| Werrington | 104 | 90.4 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Wetherby | 273 | 88.0 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 0.0 |
(2) F1032 population returns
(3) Estimated from Inmate Information System (IIS) data
(4) Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani
(5) Includes Other Asian
(6) = 100 per cent.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 693W
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many mothers and babies were transported from one prison to another in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999. [137810]
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 694W
Mr. Boateng: The figures for the number of mothers and their babies transported from one prison to another in 1998 and 1999 are set out in the table.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 695W
| Prisons | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Askham Grange | 0 | 0 |
| Holloway | 19 | 21 |
| New Hall | 4 | 6 |
| Styal | 7 | 7 |
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Prison Service Health Care Department will publish the 1997-98 annual report. [137805]
Mr. Boateng: The Prison Service Director of Health Care's Annual Report 1997-98 was published early in 1999. I am arranging for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners hanged themselves in 1999; [137801]
- (2) what operational lessons have been learned, and what changes have been made, following the deaths in HMP Leicester in December 1999; and if he will make a statement; [137721]
(3) how many prisoners suffered permanent damage as a result of an attempted suicide in 1999; [137802]
(4) what was the elapsed time between estimated time of death and discovery of the body for each prisoner who committed suicide in 1998 and 1999. [137800]
Mr. Boateng: 86 of the 91 self-inflicted deaths in custody in 1999 were by hanging. There is no reliable information about attempted suicides as at present no distinction is made between forms of self-harm. Long term or permanent physical or psychological damage can result from a variety of forms of self-harm, including substance abuse.
There were 173 self-inflicted deaths in 1998 and 1999, and full information about the timing of these deaths in relation to the discovery of the bodies could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Of 40--the first 20 in both years--cases examined, 22 inquest reports contain no record of estimated time of death. Of the remainder, nine deaths are estimated to have occurred between eight minutes and six hours 25 minutes before discovery of the body and nine deaths between 15 minutes and 78 days afterwards.
There have been six self-inflicted deaths in Leicester prison in the last year, including two in December 1999. Internal inquiries are complete in respect of five of the six and have identified no failures of basic procedures or apparent links between the six deaths. Five Coroners' inquests are awaited. Since January 2000, the prison's care suite has been refurbished, is permanently manned and in regular use. Two crisis suites are being introduced. Leicester's good and active Listener scheme has been expanded. Improved accommodation will be provided for new receptions.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 696W
The continuing rise in prisoner suicides, particularly in local prisons like Leicester, has prompted a major review of the Prison Service's work on suicide prevention. There will be a focus on local prisons like Leicester because they have high proportions of unconvicted prisoners and large throughputs and disproportionate numbers of their populations at the most risk of suicide or self-harm.
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners applied for a place in a mother and baby unit in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999 during the reception procedure. [137809]
Mr. Boateng: It is not the practice in any of the female prisons for a woman to make an application for a place on a mother and baby unit during the reception procedure. The Prison Service Order to Governors on the "Management of Mother and Baby Units and the Application Process" was published in February. This requires all women's prisons, as part of the reception process, to identify all eligible women and provide them with the prisoners' handbook "All About Mother and Baby Units" so that they can apply as soon as possible after the reception process. The order also required all women's prisons to appoint a named liaison officer, to be responsible for ensuring that all women, sentenced or unsentenced, who are pregnant or have a child under 18 months, are identified and informed of the arrangements for applying for a place on a mother and baby unit. All women's prisons now have a named liaison officer.
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have given birth while held in HMP Brockhill in the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [137806]
Mr. Boateng: Brockhill prison we re-roled to a female prison in 1997. Since then, six women have given birth while held in the prison. Five of these were at the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch, and one this year within the prison.
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the young woman who gave birth inside New Hall prison this summer. [137808]
Mr. Boateng: To date, three births have taken place within New Hall prison this year. These happened in July, August and October. However, in all three cases, staff were only alerted when labour was at a very advanced stage. Therefore, there was not enough time to transfer the women to hospital.
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were committed to prison in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999 for each imprisonable offence. [137712]
Mr. Boateng: The information requested is given in the table. This information is also published in successive volumes of "Prison Statistics England and Wales" (Tables 1.16, 3.8 and 4.5 of the 1999 edition Cm 4805) copies of which are in the Library.
15 Nov 2000 : Column: 697W
| Offence group | 1998 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All offences(7) | 91,282 | 93,965 | |
| Violence against the person | 12,942 | 12,778 | |
| Murder | 241 | 268 | |
| Manslaughter | 194 | 164 | |
| Other homicide and attempted homicide | 895 | 894 | |
| Wounding | 6,746 | 6,678 | |
| Assaults | 3,371 | 3,318 | |
| Cruelty to children | 96 | 112 | |
| Other offences of violence against the person | 1,399 | 1,344 | |
| Sexual offences | 2,715 | 2,665 | |
| Buggery and indecency between males | 114 | 113 | |
| Rape | 857 | 781 | |
| Gross indecency with children | 492 | 527 | |
| Other sexual offences | 1,252 | 1,244 | |
| Burglary | 11,570 | 11,391 | |
| Robbery | 3,595 | 3,722 | |
| Theft and handling | 19,866 | 21,763 | |
| Taking and driving away | 3,103 | 3,050 | |
| Other thefts | 14,999 | 16,956 | |
| Handling stolen goods | 1,764 | 1,757 | |
| Fraud and forgery | 3,374 | 3,296 | |
| Fraud | 3,124 | 3,116 | |
| Forgery | 250 | 180 | |
| Drug offences | 7,560 | 7,810 | |
| Other offences | 27,274 | 28,306 | |
| Arson | 400 | 416 | |
| Criminal damage | 1,680 | 1,653 | |
| In charge or driving under the influence of drink or drugs | 2,607 | 2,433 | |
| Other motoring offences | 11,800 | 12,202 | |
| Drunkenness | 534 | 459 | |
| Blackmail | 111 | 111 | |
| Kidnapping | 182 | 218 | |
| Affray | 1,504 | 1,430 | |
| Violent disorder | 470 | 347 | |
| Perjury/Libel/Pervert the course of justice | 696 | 699 | |
| Threat/disorderly behaviour | 1,184 | 1,228 | |
| Breach of Court Order | 3,387 | 4,203 | |
| Other | 2,719 | 2,907 | |
| Offences not recorded | 2,386 | 2,234 | |
| Non-criminal prisoners | |||
| All offences | 3,290 | 3,271 | |
| Committed for non-payment of: | |||
| Wife maintenance (including wife and child maintenance) | 8 | 8 | |
| Child maintenance | 14 | 9 | |
| Arrears under an affiliation order | 2 | 1 | |
| Rates | 13 | 4 | |
| Community charge/council tax | 194 | 101 | |
| Other debts | 21 | 10 | |
| In contempt of court | 588 | 586 | |
| Persons held under the 1971 Immigration Act | 2,348 | 2,443 | |
| Others | 64 | 79 | |
| Committal type not recorded | 38 | 30 | |
(7) Excludes non criminal offences
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |