---

Speed Cameras

Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the eight pilot schemes introduced in January allowing police forces to retain income from speeding fines in order to finance the operation and provision of speed cameras in their areas; and what plans he has to introduce the scheme nationwide. [140973]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The pilots were launched in April for a two-year period and the six monthly evaluation is nearing completion. The success of the pilots is to be judged primarily on casualty reduction; early indications are encouraging. The Government Departments concerned and the Association of Chief Police Officers are considering the issue of a national rollout in the light of the emerging information from the pilots.

Police and Prison Services (Wales)

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the budget for the (a) Police Service and (b) Prison Service was spent in Wales in the last 12 months for which figures are

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 927W

available (i) in actual terms, (ii) as a percentage of total expenditure on these services and (iii) per head of population in Wales. [141011]

Mr. Charles Clarke: In 1999-2000 revenue spend by police authorities on the police service in Wales, supported by Government grants, in actual terms was £375.438 million. This is 5.04 per cent. of total police net revenue expenditure in England and Wales and £127.83 per head of population in Wales.

The only information available for the Prison Service in respect of spend in Wales for the financial year 1999-2000 is the expenditure by Cardiff, Prescoed/Usk and Swansea Prisons and the payments made to the operators of Parc Prison. Spend in 1999-2000 was £54.753 million in actual terms. This represents 2.97 per cent. of the total Prison Service expenditure in 1999-2000 or £18.64 per head of population in Wales. However, because many Welsh prisoners, particularly from North Wales, are held in prisons in England this does not give a true reflection of the impact of Wales on Prison Service costs.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to collect information on anti-social behaviour orders by sub- division within each police authority. [140846]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer to the answer given to my hon. Friend by my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23 October 2000, Official Report, column 47W. We have no plans to collect information in the way he suggests.

Bramshill

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what discussions there have been between his Department and the Justice Department of the Scottish Executive on the merits of promoting Bramshill and the Scottish Police College for the proposed training centre for senior police officers in Europe; and which Ministers were involved in the discussions; [141286]

(2) what external accreditation process has been undertaken for the command course conducted at Bramshill; [141291]

(3) what assessment of candidates is undertaken and what accreditation and qualifications are available for successful students of the command course at Bramshill. [141285]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Poll Tax

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have served prison sentences following poll tax related offences in each of the last five years; and what his estimate is of the total cost to his Department of such imprisonments. [141261]

Mr. Boateng: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 928W

Police

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria in respect of (a) education and (b) training were used in selecting a candidate for the European training centre for senior police officers. [141292]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

ACPO

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who conducted the last independent evaluation of the extended interview process used for the assessment of prospective ACPO and ACPOS rank police officers; when the evaluation was completed; and if he will make a statement. [141287]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

Released Murderers

Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of murder have been released from prison; and what was the length of sentences served in each of the last five years. [141295]

Mr. Boateng: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Hilda Murrell

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of recent DNA tests found in connection with the killing of Miss Hilda Murrell. [141061]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Isiko Immigration Case

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he plans to take following the recent High Court decision on the Isiko immigration case; and if he will make a statement. [141150]

Mrs. Roche: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's appeal against the judgment of Mr. Justice Hidden was heard by the Court of Appeal on 23 November. Judgment was reserved. Action in cases which raise similar issues have been suspended pending the Court of Appeal judgment.

Departmental Liaison

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the meetings held during the last 12 months between his and other departments to discuss family and children policies and services, indicating which other departments were in attendance. [141113]

Mr. Boateng: Ministers and officials from the Home Office have held many meetings over the last 12 months to discuss family and children policies and services.

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 929W

The detailed information requested is not listed because it falls within the exemptions provided by the Code of Practice on Access to Government Initiatives.

Mr. Tuazon

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department will respond to the request for advice made by the British Embassy in Manila in relation to the entry clearance application of Mr. Arsenio J. Jacinto Tuazon; and if he will make a statement. [140912]

Mrs. Roche: We have confirmed with the British Embassy in Manila that no advice has been sought from the Home Office with regard to Mr. Tuazon's application for entry clearance. The application is being considered by an entry clearance officer and the Joint Entry Clearance Unit is writing to the hon. Member about the case.

London Fire Service

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations have taken place between the Health and Safety Executive, his Department, and elected Greater London Authority members about the proposed deal to hand control of the London Fire Service to The Leasing Group (Lattice plc); [141148]

(2) if he will place in the Library details of the arrangements entered into by The Leasing Group (Lattice plc) and the Greater London Authority to take control of the Fire Service; and if he will list all the fire engines and fire stations included in these arrangements. [141149]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Statutory responsibility for the provision of, and any contractual arrangements to secure, an efficient fire service in London rests with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. The contract signed between the Authority and The Leasing Group Fire Services on 16 November 2000 is for the provision, management and maintenance of the Authority's operational and non-operational vehicles and fireboats and some operational equipment. It does not include fire stations. The Home Office is supporting the project through the provision of notional credit approvals under the Private Finance Initiative.

Extradition (Scotland)

Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Scottish Executive concerning Crown representation at cases involving extradition applications for persons resident in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [140549]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I have had no such discussions with representatives of the Scottish Executive.

HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Manchester

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Prison Service Evaluation Panel's recommendations were concerning the future

30 Nov 2000 : Column: 930W

management of HMP Blakenhurst and HMP Manchester; when the panel's reports were made; when the panel's recommendations will be made public; and if he will make a statement. [140944]

Mr. Boateng: The Evaluation Panel has not yet finalised its recommendations. The Prison Service Management Board considered the Panel's provisional report on 17 November and endorsed the Panel's requirement for further clarification. It is anticipated that the result of the competition will be announced before Christmas.

---