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Drugs
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the levels of repeat offending among drug misusing offenders in each year since 1997. [5888]
Mr. Denham: The New English and Welsh Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (NEW-ADAM) research programme provides estimates of repeat offending drug misusing offenders for the purpose of tracking the drugs strategy. Repeat offending drug misusing offenders are defined as the proportion of arrestees that are using heroin and/or cocaine/crack at least once a week and who have offended at least twice a month in the last 12 months. As yet estimates are available only for the financial year 1999–2000. The proportion of arrestees falling within the definition of repeat offending drug misusing offenders category is 15 per cent. Please note that this only represents the interim baseline result. A summary of the full baseline data will be available in due course.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent of access to drugs among five to 16-year-olds in each year since 1997. [5762]
Mr. Denham: The survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among school children aged 11 to 15 years includes a question on whether children have been offered drugs.
Information on the proportion of 11 to 15-year-olds in England who were offered drugs is presented in the table. Information regarding younger children is not available centrally.
The data requested are available only for the years 1998–2000.
| Year | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 34 |
| 1999 | 35 |
| 2000 | 35 |
Bases: 1998 = 4,751; 1999 = 8,795; 2000 = 7,089
Sources
Goddard, E. and Higgins, V. (1999) "Drug use, smoking and drinking among young teenagers in 1998".
London: The Stationery Office.
Goddard, E. and Higgins, V. (2000) "Drug use, smoking and drinking among young teenagers in 1999".
London: The Stationery Office.
Department of Health Statistical Press Notice July 2001. "Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2000".
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Prison Service
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of the Prison Service estate which will be privately managed by 2005; and if he will make a statement. [5104]
Beverley Hughes [holding answer 19 July 2001]: The estimated percentage is 8 per cent.; this represents 11 prisons out of a total of 138.
Asylum Seekers
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the voucher support system for asylum seekers; and if he will make a statement. [6281]
Angela Eagle: We received many representations regarding the voucher support system and will make an announcement in due course.
Mother and Baby Units
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women have applied for admission to a prison mother and baby unit on reception to prison; [7941]
- (2) how many women have been refused admission to a prison mother and baby unit in the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [7937]
Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally. However, computer systems have recently been installed in each of the four mother and baby units and will record that type of information and transmit it to a central point. The staff concerned are being trained in its use and some inputting of new cases has begun.
Fire Safety (Prisons)
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on fire safety in prisons. [7399]
Beverley Hughes: Fire safety in prisons is the responsibility of the individual prison governor. Prison governors are provided with guidance on the measures to be taken regarding fire safety in the form of written advice contained in the Prison Service publication "Fire Standards in Prison Establishments", copies of which are in the Library. Further advice is provided by fire safety qualified staff of the Prison Service Fire Safety Section.
Prison premises are exempt from the requirement to have a fire certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 but are subject to the requirements of the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 as amended 1999. In state prisons these regulations are enforced by officers of The Crown Premises Inspection Group of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. In private prisons the regulations are enforced by the local fire authority.
Information relating to Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and information relating to Northern Ireland a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
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Al Muhijiroon
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he proposes to take concerning recent statements issued by Al Muhijiroon members (a) Shah Jalal Hussain, (b) Omar Brooks, (c) Abu Yahya and (d) Zahir Khan; [7640]
- (2) if he will investigate the links between Abu Hamza and the Aden Abyan Islamic Army; and if he will make a statement; [7638]
(3) if he will make a statement concerning the activities of the Takfir wal-Hijra organisation at the North London Central Mosque; and if he will make a statement; [7637]
(4) if he will investigate the links between Abu Hamza and Rachid Ramda, awaiting extradition to France since 1995; and if he will make a statement; [7639]
(5) if he will investigate the links between Sakina Security Services Ltd., Al Muhijiroon and Supporters of Sharia; and if he will make a statement; [7572]
(6) if he will investigate the nature of training courses offered at North London Central Mosque, Finsbury Park; and if he will make a statement; [7542]
(7) if he will make a statement concerning the activities of Yasser-Al-Siri; [7634]
(8) if he will make a statement on the activities of Supporters of Sharia since 11 September; [7565]
(9) if he will investigate whether Al Muhijiroon members have acted in contravention of the proscription of Hamas, Hezbollah or Islamic Jihad; and if he will make a statement; [7631]
(10) if he will investigate the links between Al Muhijiroon and Hamas and Hezbollah; and if he will make a statement; [7544]
(11) if he will make a statement concerning the statements issued by and actions of Abu Hamza since 11 September; [7543]
(12) if he will make a statement on investigations into the activities of Al Muhijiroon; [7939]
(13) what assessment he has made of recent statements issued on behalf of Sakina Security Services Ltd.; and if he will make a statement; [7547]
(14) what action he proposes to take concerning the fatwa issued by Omar Bakri Mohammed against the President of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement; [7671]
(15) if he will investigate the links between Abu Hamza and Ahmed Begal, recently arrested in Dubai; and if he will make a statement; [7636]
(16) if he will make a statement about the activities of Al Muhijiroon since 11 September; [7568]
(17) if he will investigate the activities of Muhammed Jamed with reference to Sakina Security and Al Muhijiroon; and if he will make a statement. [7632]
Mr. Blunkett: I have been in close touch with the relevant policing and anti-terrorist units, and with the Attorney-General, in tracking the work undertaken in surveilling, monitoring and evaluating evidence which might be used in any prosecution. As my hon. Friend
17 Oct 2001 : Column: 1237W
knows, the detailed operational functions lie with the police and intelligence services, and decisions on prosecutions with the Crown Prosecution Service. We have made it clear that those who step over the line will be prosecuted.
Islamic Fundamentalism (Recruitment)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he proposes to take to restrict the activities of those involved in recruiting British citizens for paramilitary training (a) in the UK and (b) overseas on behalf of Islamic fundamentalist organisations; and if he will make a statement; [7437]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the activities of Al Muhijiroon and Supporters of Sharia in recruiting for training which is linked to terrorism; [7633]
(3) what action he plans to take concerning the statement by Omar Bakri Mohammed of 30 May 2000 in al Sharq al Awsat, on British passport holders being sent on Al Muhijiroon guerrilla training courses in the USA; [7670]
(4) what assessment he has made of the number of British citizens who (a) have recently undergone and (b) are undergoing (i) military and (ii) paramilitary training overseas, organised by Islamic fundamentalist groups; and if he will make a statement; [7438]
(5) if he will make a statement concerning the activities of Abu Yahya in respect of recruitment for military training camps in Kashmir. [7555]
Mr. Blunkett: I am aware of the allegations relating to the training of United Kingdom nationals overseas. Under Section 54 (1) and (2) of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to provide instruction or training or to receive instruction or training in the making or use of firearms, explosives, or chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. In addition, under subsection (3) (b) a person commits an offence if he invites another to receive instruction or training and the receipt would constitute an offence under subsection (2) but for the fact that it is to take place outside the United Kingdom. Any concrete and verifiable evidence of such activities will be dealt with immediately, and the police and intelligence services are fully aware of this.
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