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HOME DEPARTMENT
Drug-related Crime
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the Merseyside Police Authority's budget has been spent on investigating drug-related crime and on preventing drug-related crime in each year since 1995. [99433]
Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 23 November 1999]: A breakdown of Merseyside Police expenditure in the form requested is not available.
Operation Care
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations similar to Operation Care are being undertaken in the United Kingdom. [99431]
Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 23 November 1999]: A recent survey of police forces conducted by the Association of Chief Police Officers indicated that 32 forces have carried out investigations into institutional child abuse.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the individuals convicted as a result of Operation Care, how many have made applications to the Court of Appeal or the Crown Court. [99100]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I understand that there have to date been no appeals against conviction by individuals convicted as a result of Operation Care. There have been three appeals against sentence, of which two were successful and one was unsuccessful.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have brought complaints against more than one person in Operation Care. [98684]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The number of multiple allegations covered by the Operation Care investigation made by one complainant against a number of persons is not readily available. I will provide further information when it has been collated.
Victims' Compensation
Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will assess the responses to the consultation on the paper, Compensation for Victims of Violent Crime. [98678]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
We have completed a preliminary analysis of the responses to the consultation exercise, but need to undertake further work before we
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will be in a position to say how we plan to take matters forward. We hope to be able to announce our intentions fairly early in the new year.
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to review the guidelines for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in the light of Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. [98677]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The implications for the Scheme of Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights are being considered along with the Government's consideration of the responses to the recent consultation exercise.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will take to ensure guidance is consistent on the treatment of calculation of loss of pension; and if he will make a statement. [98483]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The administration and interpretation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is a matter for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel (CICAP). I understand the Authority is drawing up a revised guidance for caseworkers and claims officers about the treatment of loss of pension.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements will be put in place to ensure old Criminal Injuries Compensation Board cases are considered by legally qualified persons after the CICB ceases to exist next year; and if he will make a statement. [98485]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Under the transitional provisions of the 1996 Scheme, made under powers conferred by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995, any 1990 Scheme cases outstanding when the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) is wound up ('the transfer date') will be transferred to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) for resolution by legally qualified members of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel (CICAP) in accordance with the terms of the 1990 Scheme. The transfer date is likely to be 1 April 2000.
The Panel already contains many legally qualified members who will be able to deal with 1990 Scheme cases. Many of them are also members of the Board. The Panel's strength is likely to be doubled next year when new appointments are made as a result of a major new recruitment exercise set in hand in October. Many of the new appointees will be lawyers. Additionally, a number of Board members, who are not already members of the Panel, are being invited to join the Panel from the transfer date specifically to deal with residual 1990 Scheme cases.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority will issue guidance on the justified exceptional risk rule; and if he will make a statement. [98482]
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Mr. Charles Clarke:
The administration and interpretation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is a matter for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel (CICAP). Some guidance on the interpretation of the exceptional risk rule is given in the Guide to the Scheme issued by CICA. The Authority will consider whether further guidance would be helpful.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial aid was given by his Department in the last 12 months to organisations that assist victims of domestic violence. [98453]
Mr. Boateng:
The Home Office has lead responsibility for violence against women, the Government's plans set out in "Living Without Fear" and the co-ordination of policy against domestic violence. But most central Government funding for the victims of domestic violence remains channelled through budgets which reflect the responsibilities of other Departments or local agencies.
The Home Office is increasing the funding of Victim Support, which supports all victims of crime, including those who have experienced domestic violence, from £12.7 million in 1998 to £19 million by 2001. In addition, at least £6 million is being made available from the Crime Reduction Programme for projects addressing domestic violence, rape and sexual assault.
Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the training of prison officers in order to combat bullying in young offenders centres. [98674]
Mr. Boateng:
The initial training course for new prison officers has recently been reviewed, and now includes additional specific training for those who will work with young people. The training covers the Prison Service's anti-bullying policy and the standards expected of prison officers as well as the particular requirements for work with the young.
The service has also developed an anti-bullying training programme for delivery locally in prison establishments which will be available early in the new year.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the rates of (a) suicide and (b) self-harm for each young offenders' institution in each of the last five years. [98478]
Mr. Boateng:
The information requested is given in the tables.
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| Rates of self-harm per 1,000 population | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young offender institutions | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 |
| Aylesbury | 140 | 96 | 79 | 106 | 226 |
| Castington | 88 | 42 | 44 | 42 | 69 |
| Deerbolt | 427 | 418 | 278 | 205 | 200 |
| Dover | 62 | 27 | 30 | 33 | 23 |
| Feltham | 129 | 639 | 284 | 327 | 330 |
| Glen Parva | 102 | 108 | 93 | 155 | 143 |
| Guys Marsh | 52 | 66 | 73 | 82 | 63 |
| Hatfield | 16 | 0 | 25 | 7 | 13 |
| Huntercombe | 91 | 52 | 25 | 69 | 27 |
| Onley | 75 | 222 | 96 | 137 | 125 |
| Portland | 98 | 59 | 61 | 30 | 60 |
| Reading | 345 | 290 | 333 | 314 | 174 |
| Stoke Heath | 201 | 221 | 159 | 162 | 191 |
| Swinfen Hall | 33 | 44 | 168 | 64 | 31 |
| Thorn Cross | 11 | 54 | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Wetherby | 286 | 358 | 441 | 103 | 131 |
Notes:
1. Establishments have been listed according to their primary role, thus a number of other prisons that hold young offenders (e.g. male remand centres) are not shown.
2. Not all self-inflicted deaths conclude with a verdict of suicide.
3. Incidents do not equate to numbers of prisoners as an individual prisoner may self-harm more than once.
4. Self-harm data are derived from information provided by establishments to the Prison Service's Directorate of Health Care.
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