| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Integrated Casework Directorate
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of the Business Plan of the Integrated Casework Directorate of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. [100490]
Mrs. Roche:
I have placed in the Library a copy of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) Report for 1999, published on Tuesday 30 November, which reports on performance during 1998-1999 and sets out our programme to meet the published targets for 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02. The Report focuses on IND's key objectives underpinning the Home Office Aim 6, as set out in the Public Service Agreement and Home Office Business and Expenditure Plans (Command Paper 4205).
6 Dec 1999 : Column: 384W
I have also placed in the Library a detailed business plan for the Integrated Casework Directorate as given to staff in July. The document was at that time a draft and remains a living document subject to continuing review. For example, numbers of staff already recruited, and current recruitment plans, exceed those stated in the draft business plan.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current backlogs are in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate for (a) asylum cases, (b) general and settlement cases, (c) illegal entry, deportation and European cases and (d) nationality cases. [100488]
Mrs. Roche:
The current backlog of cases for the various categories is set in the table:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Asylum cases | 94,305 |
| General and settlement cases | (18)27,200 |
| European cases | (18)940 |
| Deportation and illegal entry cases | (18)18,100 |
| Nationality cases | 100,000 |
(18) Figures relate to cases in the Integrated Casework Directorate, excluding those currently being actioned in caseworking groups and local enforcement offices.
The backlogs are being tackled by various initiatives. We have introduced streamlined measures for dealing with general casework across all Case Management Units. We are successfully piloting new processes to speed up the consideration of asylum cases, both new and in the backlog.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures he is planning to enable his Department to identify asylum cases involving children to ensure a faster turn-around time after 1 April 2000. [100487]
Mrs. Roche: We have developed new procedures for speeding up the consideration of asylum applications. New family cases involving dependent children are being given priority. A database is being set up to monitor progress.
Mental Illness
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is in respect of restraint of people with a severe mental illness by methods based on the infliction of pain. [100719]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The restraint of any person must be within the law, which requires that the force used to prevent crime or to apprehend a suspect must be reasonable in all the circumstances.
Police guidelines on restraint provide a range of options based on the use of an appropriate necessary level of force. It is not, of course, always possible to determine immediately whether a person who needs to be restrained or apprehended is suffering from mental disorder.
6 Dec 1999 : Column: 385W
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken in response to the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority on raising officers' awareness of the nature and impact of severe mental illness and about officers seeking advice and assistance when dealing with someone who is mentally ill. [100716]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
I understand that officers in both the Metropolitan Police and other forces in England and Wales receive formal training on mental illness as part of their probationer training. It is open to chief officers to provide additional training on this subject if there is a particular need for it. Home Office Circular 12/95 sets out advice for chief police officers and others on dealing with mentally disordered suspects or offenders, including the need to develop effective contacts with other local services and agencies. We have noted the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority and will assess whether there is scope for further guidance to the police.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government proposes to take in response of the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee's (Fourth report, Session 1998-99, HC 81) about enforcing a requirement that all custody officers receive training before commencing duties. [100717]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
It is essential that all police officers receive the training necessary to enable them to carry out their duties properly. The Government published options for future police training arrangements in a consultation document on 18 November. The principal aim of these proposals is to ensure that all officers and support staff are equipped to carry out their duties to common high standards. The Government will announce their final proposals early in 2000, shortly after the consultation period closes on 7 January.
Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on (a) the function and (b) the remit of the Advisory Group on Openness in the Public Sector. [100651]
Mr. Straw:
The function of the Advisory Group on Openness in the Public Sector is to advise the Secretary of State on the steps needed to be taken ahead of legislation to create a culture of openness in all public services and lay the foundations for the implementation of a future Freedom of Information Act.
The remit of the Advisory Group is to:
6 Dec 1999 : Column: 386W
particular interest in Freedom of Information on the management of change. Information about the Advisory Group, including information about its function and remit as well as accounts of its meetings, is published on the Home Office website.
The Group has today submitted its recommendations to me and I have placed a copy of the report in the Library.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations he has had with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities about the provision of coroners' services during the period between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday; [100586]
Mr. Boateng:
The need for appropriate cover over this period has already been brought to the attention of the Coroners' Society and we expect to write to all coroners on this matter shortly. Coroners are required under the Coroners Rules to be available at all times to undertake duties in connection with inquests and post mortem examinations. (We have held no consultations with, nor received representations from, religious communities specifically during this period about cover). Responsibility for the availability of coroner services lies with the relevant coroner and the local council.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has issued to local authorities about emergency planning during the forthcoming Christmas and new year period. [100583]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Local authorities are expected to have generic emergency management arrangements. Recognising the unique features of this period, the Home Office has issued two additional guidance documents to local authorities and has made a major contribution to a range of Millennium specific seminars and workshops. In addition, a Millennium version of the "Exercise planners guide" was issued in January 1999.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the state of readiness of local authorities' emergency plans for the period by Christmas 1999 and new year 2000. [100582]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Each local authority is responsible for determining its own emergency planning arrangements. It should be able to respond effectively to any emergency at any time. However, the Home Office visited a range of local authorities to discuss the unique aspects of the Millennium date change period. On the basis of those visits, we are informed that local authorities are prepared for the period.
advise the Home Secretary on proposals for promoting cultural change in the public sector to foster a culture of greater openness;
assist in the development of training and education programmes for public servants to promote cultural change and facilitate the introduction of Freedom of Information; and
undertake other tasks related to the implementation of Freedom of Information as directed by the Home Secretary.
The Group is chaired by the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), and the members are drawn from a variety of backgrounds. Some bring a specialist knowledge of an area of public service to the Group's work, while others have a
(2) what steps he has taken to ensure the adequate provision of coroners' services during the period between Christmas and the end of the Millennium holiday. [100587]
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |