House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Feb 2001 (pt 6)

Naturalisation Application

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is his policy that time spent considering a previous unsuccessful application for naturalisation should be deducted from the average waiting time for a decision in a subsequent naturalisation application. [150376]

Mrs. Roche [holding answer 15 February 2001]: Where the normal criteria for granting priority are met, a subsequent application would normally be started ahead of its turn in the queue. In some instances the work done on the initial application may facilitate determination of a second application.

Departmental Entertainment Costs

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total gross running cost to his Department was in the last 12 months of entertaining by (a) Ministers and (b) officials. [149046]

Mr. Straw: The provisional total gross running cost to my Department in the last 12 months to 31 January 2001 of entertainment by Ministers was £6,234 and by officials was £160,095. Modest hospitality is provided for official visitors and guests, for example overseas delegations, in circumstances which are beneficial to the interests of the Department and in discharge of my responsibilities as a Cabinet Minister.

27 Feb 2001 : Column: 604W

Domestic Violence

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported cases involving domestic violence there were in England and Wales during the last 12 months. [151013]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Domestic violence is not separately identified in recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office. However, estimates for the numbers of domestic violence offences in 1999 are available from the 2000 British Crime Survey (BCS). Figures are also available from returns submitted to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary relating to domestic violence 'incidents' notified by police forces in England and Wales (whether or not they are subsequently recorded as crimes).

The best estimate from the BCS is that there were 761,000 offences of domestic violence in 1999. Returns from the police indicate that there were 398,670 incidents notified to the police in 1999-2000. The BCS figure is higher than that from police 'incident' returns because not all victims will report what happened to the police. The BCS figure is an estimate only. As it is derived from a sample, it is subject to sampling error. Also, some respondents may be unwilling to reveal experience of domestic violence to interviewers. A different--more confidential--approach to measuring domestic violence in the 1996 sweep of the BCS produced higher estimates than from the conventional approach, as used to derive the 761,000 incidents in 1999.

The BCS and police figures cover incidents against men and women. In the BCS, 74 per cent. of the offences involved women as victims (around 560,000 incidents). This information is not available from the police 'incident' returns.

Child Abuse

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent reports he has received from Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary on the cost-effectiveness of police trawling investigations relating to child abuse allegations. [151277]

Mr. Charles Clarke: There have been no reports from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary on the cost- effectiveness of child abuse investigations. The police have a duty to investigate all allegations of child abuse fully and thoroughly, and in accordance with the law. It is for individual Chief Constables to decide on the most appropriate methods of investigation in each case.

I have been in discussion with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary about what more can be done to ensure that the procedures in place for conducting these very difficult investigations are fair and robust.

ACPO are currently drawing up a manual for Senior Investigating Officers working in child abuse cases, which will include a section on good practice in tracing potential witnesses and obtaining corroborative evidence. This will provide detailed operational guidance on how to conduct such investigations, while recognising that investigators must follow emerging evidence and treat each case on its merits. In parallel with this, an inter-agency working group is currently reviewing the procedures for investigating the abuse of children in care or looked

27 Feb 2001 : Column: 605W

after children in the context of taking forward the Government's response to the Waterhouse Report "Lost in Care". This review will lead to the development of practical, procedural guidance to the police and social services on the handling of complex abuse investigations.

Both sets of best practice guidance should be completed by the end of March. Together they will provide a coherent policy framework for how to conduct child abuse investigations, building on best practice drawn from around the country and ensuring that the necessary procedures are in place to safeguard against the risk of false allegations.

Prison Visits

Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Boards of Visitors which have published their annual report in each of the last five years. [151495]

Mr. Boateng: Boards of Visitors annual reports are not published documents. They are made to the Secretary of State who permits the Board to publish their annual report, if they wish, subject to the removal of any material which is confidential. Boards are, however, encouraged to publish their reports and the Boards which have done so over the past five years are shown in the table.

Board 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Acklington No No Yes Yes No

Albany No No No No No

Aldington Yes Yes Yes No ⁽³⁾--

Altcourse ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- Yes Yes Yes

Ashfield ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- Yes

Ashwell No No No No Yes

Askham Grange Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Aylesbury No No Yes No Yes

Bedford Yes No Yes No Yes

Belmarsh Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Birmingham No No Yes Yes Yes

Blakenhurst Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Blantyre House Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Blundeston Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Brinsford No No Yes Yes Yes

Bristol Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Brixton Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Brockhill No No No Yes Yes

Buckley Hall No No Yes Yes Yes

Bullingdon No No No Yes Yes

Bullwood Hall Yes Yes No Yes Yes

Camp Hill No No No No Yes

Canterbury No No Yes Yes No

Cardiff No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Castington No No No No Yes

Channings Wood Yes Yes No No Yes

Chelmsford Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Colchester ⁽²⁾-- Yes ⁽³⁾-- ⁽³⁾-- ⁽³⁾--

Coldingley No No Yes Yes Yes

Cookham Wood No No No Yes No

Dartmoor Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Deerbolt Yes No No No Yes

Doncaster No No Yes Yes Yes

Dorchester No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Dover No No No No Yes

Downview Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Drake Hall Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Durham No No No Yes Yes

East Sutton Park No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Eastwood Park No No No Yes Yes

Elmley No No No No No

Erlestoke Yes No Yes Yes Yes

Everthorpe No No Yes Yes Yes

Exeter Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Featherstone No No Yes Yes No

Feltham Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Ford Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Forest Bank ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- Yes

Foston Hall ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- Yes Yes Yes

Frankland No No Yes Yes Yes

Full Sutton Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Garth No No Yes Yes Yes

Gartree No No Yes Yes Yes

Glen Parva No No Yes Yes Yes

Gloucester No No Yes Yes Yes

Grendon/Spring Hill No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Guys Marsh Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Haslar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Hatfield No No Yes No Yes

Haverigg No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Hewell Grange No Yes No Yes Yes

High Down Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Highpoint Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Hindley No No No No No

Hollesley Bay Yes Yes Yes No Yes

Holloway Yes No No Yes Yes

Holme House No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Hull Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Huntercombe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Kingston Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Kirkham Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Kirklevington Grange No No Yes Yes Yes

Lancaster Castle Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Lancaster Farms Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Latchmere House No No No Yes Yes

Leeds No No Yes Yes Yes

Leicester No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Lewes No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Leyhill No No No No Yes

Lincoln No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Lindholme No No Yes Yes Yes

Littlehey No Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Liverpool No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Long Lartin No No Yes Yes Yes

Lowdham Grange ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Low Newton No No No ⁽¹⁾-- ⁽¹⁾--

Maidstone No No No No Yes

Manchester No No No No ⁽¹⁾--

Moorland No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Morton Hall No Yes No Yes Yes

The Mount Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

New Hall No Yes Yes No ⁽¹⁾--

Northallerton Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

North Sea Camp No No No No ⁽¹⁾--

Norwich Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Nottingham Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Onley No No No Yes Yes

Parc ⁽²⁾-- ⁽²⁾-- Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Parkhurst No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Pentonville Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Portland No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Preston Yes No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Ranby No No Yes Yes Yes

Reading No Yes Yes No Yes

Risley Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Rochester No No Yes Yes Yes

Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Shepton Mallet No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Shrewsbury No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Stafford No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Standford Hill No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Stocken No No No Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Stoke Heath No Yes No No Yes

Styal No No No No ⁽¹⁾--

Sudbury No No No No ⁽¹⁾--

Swaleside Yes Yes No Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Swansea Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Swinfen Hall No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Thorn Cross No No No Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Usk/Prescoed No Yes No Yes ⁽¹⁾--

The Verne Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Wakefield No No No No ⁽¹⁾--

Wandsworth Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Wayland Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Wealstun No No No Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Weare ⁽²⁾-- Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Wellingborough No Yes Yes No ⁽¹⁾--

Werrington No No Yes No Report ⁽¹⁾--

Wetherby Yes No No No ⁽¹⁾--

Whatton Yes Yes Yes No ⁽¹⁾--

Whitemoor Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Winchester Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Wolds Yes Yes Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Woodhill No No Yes No ⁽¹⁾--

Wormwood Scrubs No Yes Yes Yes Yes

Wymott No No Yes Yes ⁽¹⁾--

Board	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000
Acklington	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Albany	No	No	No	No	No
Aldington	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	⁽³⁾--
Altcourse	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ashfield	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	Yes
Ashwell	No	No	No	No	Yes
Askham Grange	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Aylesbury	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Bedford	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Belmarsh	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Birmingham	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Blakenhurst	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Blantyre House	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Blundeston	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brinsford	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bristol	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brixton	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brockhill	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Buckley Hall	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bullingdon	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Bullwood Hall	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Camp Hill	No	No	No	No	Yes
Canterbury	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Cardiff	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Castington	No	No	No	No	Yes
Channings Wood	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Chelmsford	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Colchester	⁽²⁾--	Yes	⁽³⁾--	⁽³⁾--	⁽³⁾--
Coldingley	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cookham Wood	No	No	No	Yes	No
Dartmoor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deerbolt	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Doncaster	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dorchester	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dover	No	No	No	No	Yes
Downview	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Drake Hall	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Durham	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
East Sutton Park	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Eastwood Park	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Elmley	No	No	No	No	No
Erlestoke	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Everthorpe	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Exeter	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Featherstone	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Feltham	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ford	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Forest Bank	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	Yes
Foston Hall	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	Yes	Yes	Yes
Frankland	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Full Sutton	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garth	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gartree	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Glen Parva	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Gloucester	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grendon/Spring Hill	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Guys Marsh	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Haslar	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hatfield	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Haverigg	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hewell Grange	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
High Down	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Highpoint	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Hindley	No	No	No	No	No
Hollesley Bay	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Holloway	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Holme House	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hull	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Huntercombe	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kingston	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kirkham	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kirklevington Grange	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lancaster Castle	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lancaster Farms	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Latchmere House	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Leeds	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leicester	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Lewes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leyhill	No	No	No	No	Yes
Lincoln	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lindholme	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Littlehey	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Liverpool	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Long Lartin	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lowdham Grange	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Low Newton	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--	⁽¹⁾--
Maidstone	No	No	No	No	Yes
Manchester	No	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--
Moorland	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Morton Hall	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
The Mount	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
New Hall	No	Yes	Yes	No	⁽¹⁾--
Northallerton	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
North Sea Camp	No	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--
Norwich	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Nottingham	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Onley	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Parc	⁽²⁾--	⁽²⁾--	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Parkhurst	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Pentonville	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Portland	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Preston	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Ranby	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reading	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Risley	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rochester	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Shepton Mallet	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Shrewsbury	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Stafford	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Standford Hill	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Stocken	No	No	No	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Stoke Heath	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
Styal	No	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--
Sudbury	No	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--
Swaleside	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Swansea	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Swinfen Hall	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Thorn Cross	No	No	No	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Usk/Prescoed	No	Yes	No	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
The Verne	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wakefield	No	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--
Wandsworth	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Wayland	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Wealstun	No	No	No	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Weare	⁽²⁾--	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Wellingborough	No	Yes	Yes	No	⁽¹⁾--
Werrington	No	No	Yes	No Report	⁽¹⁾--
Wetherby	Yes	No	No	No	⁽¹⁾--
Whatton	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	⁽¹⁾--
Whitemoor	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Winchester	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Wolds	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--
Woodhill	No	No	Yes	No	⁽¹⁾--
Wormwood Scrubs	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wymott	No	No	Yes	Yes	⁽¹⁾--

⁽¹⁾ Not yet received

⁽²⁾ Prison not open

⁽³⁾ Prison closed

Note:

For some of the 2000 reports indicated above the date of publication will be after the disclosure of this information.

27 Feb 2001 : Column: 607W

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