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Detention Centres
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in which financial year he expects the Oakington Reception Centre first to deliver savings in asylum support costs; [159401]
- (2) in which financial year the Oakington Reception Centre will deliver the annual saving in asylum support costs referred to on page 65 of his Department's Annual report. [159399]
Mrs. Roche [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The potential savings identified in the annual report were based on operating at full capacity for a full financial year. Oakington has been capable of operating at full capacity since 28 January 2001. We expect some savings in support costs to have resulted from the first year of operation.
Special Secure Units
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are detained in each special secure unit, indicating (a) the crimes for which each prisoner was convicted, (b) the national origin and citizenship of the prisoner, (c) the ethnic group of the prisoners, (d) the aggregate length of time the prisoner was in SSU accommodation, (e) the month and year in which the prisoner's last two formal three-monthly medical reviews took place and (f) the representations he has received following observations made by medical examiners. [159553]
Mr. Boateng: On 30 April 2001, eight prisoners were being held in special secure units (SSUs), six at Whitemoor prison and two at Belmarsh prison. Only prisoners categorised as category A exceptional escape risk are held in SSUs. We are not aware of any representations being submitted following observations made by medical examiners. The table gives the other information requested.
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| Offence | Origin | Ethnic Group | Aggregate time spent in SSU | Dates of last two 3-monthly medical reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conspiracy to supply drugs | British | Asian | 22 months | September 2000-January 2001 |
| Supply drugs | Turkish | Asian | 20 months | September 2000-January 2001 |
| Importation of drugs | Colombian | White | 46 months | September 2000-January 2001 |
| Importation of drugs | Turkish | White | 13 months | September 2000-January 2001 |
| Attempted murder | British | Black | 9 months | September 2000-January 2001 |
| Supplying drugs | British | White | 7 months | September 2000-January 2001 |
| Supplying drugs | British | White | 9 months | December 2000-April 2001 |
| Murder | British | White | 11 months | January 2001-April 2001 |
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Animal Welfare
Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made with the code of practice for the care and welfare of circus animals on tour. [160782]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The code of practice for the care and welfare of circus animals has now been written by the Association of Circus Proprietors and it will be distributed to local authorities soon. It is not a Home Office document, contrary to a press report.
Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to give better protection to animals; and if he will make a statement. [160781]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I will make an announcement as soon as possible.
Sex Offenders Act
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the report of the review of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. [160692]
Mr. Charles Clarke: I will make an announcement as soon as possible.
Emergency Planning Legislation
Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for reviewing the emergency planning legislation; and if he will make a statement. [160724]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Brake) on 13 February 2001, Official Report, column 100W.
I will make a further announcement as soon as possible.
Plastic Baton Rounds
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W, what the average kinetic energy on impact is at (a) one metre, (b) five metres, (c) 10 metres, (d) 20 metres, (e) 30 metres, (f) 50 metres, (g) 75 metres and (h) 100 metres of the (i) L5A7 baton round and (ii) L21A1 baton round fired from the L104 anti-riot gun; and what his assessment is of the probability of lethality following impact to the (A) head, (B) thorax and (C) abdomen for each of these KE measures. [158040]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
8 May 2001 : Column: 88W
The table shows the average (mean) kinetic energy in Joules (J) of the L21A1 baton round from a clamped L104 gun, and for the L5A7 baton round.
| Range | Kinetic energy of L21A1 | Kinetic energy of L5A7 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 m | 257J | 274J |
| 20 m | 244J | 246J |
| 35 m | 230J | 216J |
| 50 m | 215J | 200J |
There are no experimental data for kinetic energy at 1 m, 5 m, 10 m, 75 m, or 100 m; kinetic energy at these ranges could be estimated from the table.
The probability of impacts to the head and upper thorax by the L21A1 will be significantly less than the incidence of impact to these areas by the L5A7. This is due to the improved accuracy and consistency achieved by the L21A1 weapon system.The probability of lethality to the head, thorax and abdomen, given an impact to these regions, cannot be calculated accurately. The assessment of the injury potential of the L21A1 batons round was undertaken as a comparative study between the two projectiles using computer and physical models of the biomechanical response of these regions, and the severity of specific injuries. The conclusions of the studies are described in the DSAC report placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W, if he will list the companies involved in the manufacture of the (a) L21A1 plastic baton round, (b) L104 anti-riot gun and (c) XL18E3; where each company is based; and what the cost of Government contracts was with each of these companies in each of the past 10 years. [158039]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
I am withholding this information in accordance with exemptions 1 and 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W, what assessment he has made of the consequences of ricochet of an L21A1 plastic baton round (a) under, (b) within and (c) beyond the normal operating range. [158046]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
The normal operational range of the L21A1 baton round is 20-40 m. The L21A1 baton round is more accurate than the L5A7 baton round, particularly at longer
8 May 2001 : Column: 89W
range, and the incidence of baton rounds missing the target and subsequently ricocheting behind the target will be significantly reduced.
The new optical gun-sight is set to direct the L21A1 baton towards the lower part of the body, away from the potentially vulnerable areas of the upper thorax and head. At the furthest normal operating ranges, a small proportion of the L21A1 batons may strike the ground just before they hit the lower part of the body. The guidance to firers allows for compensatory action (ie to aim off) at these distances to reduce the risk of ricochet. In the event that a ricochet were still to occur, we would expect baton rounds to ricochet below the vulnerable areas of the head and upper thorax.
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W, what the cost was of each of the four DSAC studies. [158044]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
8 May 2001 : Column: 90W
The Defence Scientific Advisory Council sub- committee members engaged on the independent medical assessment placed in the Library of the House on 2 April and on the three preceding statements mentioned in the assessment, incurred the following costs, made up of fees and travelling expenses:
- (a) Statement dated 18 October 1999--£3,552
- (b) Statement dated 18 January 2000--£3,308
- (c) Statement dated 18 April 2000--£1,394
- (d) Statement dated 21 August 2000--£1,223
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W, what the (a) mass, (b) velocity, (c) shape, (d) aerodynamic properties, (e) composition and (f) stiffness is of the (i) L21A1 and (ii) L5A7; and if he will make a statement. [158038]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
The data in the table for the mass, velocity and hardness are taken from the respective schedule of proof for the two batons.
8 May 2001 : Column: 89W
| L21A1 | L5A7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Mass | 96.8-99.2g | 132-135g |
| Minimum and maximum velocity (at 2 m) | 69-76 m/s | 55-70 m/s |
| Mean velocity range (at 2 m) | 70-74 m/s | 60.5-65.0 m/s |
| Shape | 37 mm calibre with a 9 mm nose edge radius and a boat-tail on the base | 37 mm calibre with a 3 mm nose and base edge radius |
| Aerodynamic properties (estimated drag coefficient, Cd) | 0.24 | 0.64 |
| Composition | Polyurethane polymer | Polyurethane polymer with an additive to increase density |
| Hardness (oIRHD) | 92-95 | 85-90 |
8 May 2001 : Column: 89W
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 April 2001, Official Report, column 68W on baton rounds, if he will place in the Library (a) the outline plan of the technical assessment drawn up by DERA, Porton Down and endorsed by the DSAC, (b) the results of firing trials and impact modelling used to compare the performance of the L5A7 and L21A1 baton rounds and (c) studies conducted on post ricochet trajectories and energy of L21A2 baton rounds, indicating what the probability of impact to the (i) upper torso and (ii) head is, and what the cause of inaccuracy in the L21A1 delivery system was at the 40 metre range. [158538]
Mr. Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
As my hon. Friend will be aware, a copy of an independent medical assessment of the new baton round was placed in the Library on 2 April. The key conclusions of the documents requested can be found in this report. I am withholding the documents themselves in accordance with exemptions 2 and 11 of the code of practice on access to Government information which relate respectively to internal discussion and advice and to incomplete analysis. The problem of inaccuracy at 40m was discovered during tests and addressed by a change to the gun zeroing policy.
8 May 2001 : Column: 90W
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