Previous Section Index Home Page


Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for the period between the commencement of the home detention curfew scheme and 31 December 2001 inclusive, (a) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, (b) the number of prisoners convicted of each offence who were released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, including offences committed by prisoners normally classified under the categories (i) other homicide and attempted homicide, (ii) other violence against the person,

15 Jan 2002 : Column 176W

(iii) drug offences, (iv) assaults and (v) other offences, including a breakdown of the prisoners normally classified in the sub-category of other offences called other offences, (c) the average sentence (A) received and (B) served, and the average period spent on the scheme, in respect of each offence, (d) the number of prisoners released on the scheme, with a breakdown of the offences committed, who (1) breached the conditions of the curfew, (2) disappeared and were recaptured, (3) disappeared and remain unlawfully at large and (4) had their licences revoked with reasons, (e) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme while on the scheme, including offences committed, by prisoners who committed more than one offence and (f) the specific offences committed by prisoners released on the scheme who committed a further offence while on the scheme that was similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted, including offences committed by prisoners who committed more than one offence; and if he will make a statement. [27649]

Beverley Hughes: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

TETRA Masts

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what evaluations were made by his Department before permitting the National Radiological Protection Board to erect TETRA masts for the emergency services; [14622]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 14 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 93W.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is reviewing the draft PIU report into delivering electronic Government in the context of his consideration of entitlement cards and the threats posed by terrorism; when he expects to publish the report; and if he will make a statement. [17195]

Mr. Blunkett: The Performance Innovation Unit (PIU) report "e.Gov-Electronic Government Services for the 21st Century" was published in September 2000 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister before the Government began their consideration of a universal entitlement card scheme.

The hon. Gentleman may have meant to refer to the PIU study into Privacy and Data Sharing in his question. The results of this study are being considered and will be published in due course. In their consideration of an entitlement card scheme, my officials are working closely with the PIU and the Office of the E-Envoy.

15 Jan 2002 : Column 177W

The Government do not consider that an entitlement card scheme would have a significant effect in combating terrorism in the United Kingdom.

Extraditions

Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the Government sought to be extradited to face trial in the UK from (a) other EU countries and (b) non-EU countries in each of the last 10 years broken down by categories of offence; and how many requests were (i) accepted, (ii) refused and (iii) withdrawn. [26150]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth [holding answer 11 January 2002]: Reliable statistics covering the last 10 years are not available. The information since 1997 is as follows:

Requests made(7) Outcomes(8),(9)
EU1non-EUGrantedRefusedWithdrawn
1997173130(13)4(2)14(5)
1998432038(19)3(1)14(7)
1999391036(9)2(0)20(10)
2000502031(7)1(0)10(4)
2001572552(17)6(2)17(2)

Notes:

1. The figures do not include requests made to Ireland which are governed by the Backing of Warrants (Republic of Ireland) Act 1965 and are not collected centrally.

2. Outcomes in any given year do not necessarily correspond to the number of requests made.

3. Non-EU figures shown in brackets


The following table indicates for the same five year period into which broad categories of offence requests made fell.

Year(9)
Offence(7),(8) 19971998199920002001
Drugs11(7)19(4)1417(2)13(2)
Murder24911(4)
Manslaughter12
Terrorism(3)
Rape(1)(3)4(3)3(2)4(1)
Violence against the person5(3)31(2)2(1)4
Indecent assault5(3)4(1)(1)5(2)6(2)
Firearms/explosives possession2(1)
Theft/robbery6(2)14(7)12(2)12(1)17(2)
Fraud/deception6(3)414(1)12(5)15(8)
Kidnap/false imprisonment1112(1)2
Offence
Child abduction3(5)3(1)
Tax/VAT evasion13276(2)
Forgery/counterfeiting12
Arson(1)1
Official Secrets Act1
Money laundering1
Blackmail(1)(1)
Pornography(1)2(1)11
Affray(1)
Arranging bogus marriages(1)
Death by reckless driving111
Drunk on aircraft(1)
Perverting course of justice1

Notes:

1. Offences are defined broadly, and include conspiracies or attempts to commit offences.

2. The figures do not perfectly match the number of requests in the preceding table some fugitives are sought for more than one offence.

3. Non-EU figures shown in brackets.


15 Jan 2002 : Column 178W

Murder

Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has on the present (a) murder rate per 1,000 of the population and (b) attempted murder rate for (i) Manchester and (ii) the UK; [25772]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 11 January 2002]: Figures for the murder and attempted murder rate per 1,000 of the population for Greater Manchester and England and Wales for year ending March 2001 are:



Figures for the clear-up rates for murder and attempted murder for Greater Manchester and England and Wales for year ending March 2001 are:



Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for their respective Ministers.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the latest date for which figures are available, how many asylum seekers have been dispersed since the introduction of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; and how many asylum seekers receiving support from the NASS under section 95 of the Act, and living in London and the south-east, have had dispersal directions cancelled on medical grounds. [24363]

Angela Eagle [holding answer 14 January 2002]: The information is not available in the form requested.

Information recorded by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) shows that as at the end of September 2001, the number of asylum seekers (including dependants) supported in NASS accommodation was 32,890 1 , 2



Information is not available on the numbers of asylum seekers who have had dispersal directions cancelled on medical grounds.

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 2001, (15273), when he expects to conclude the final list of categories of data to be stored on the micro-chip on the asylum seeker identification card. [25278]

Angela Eagle: The list of data initially contained within the micro-chip of the Application Registration Card will be finalised shortly before production

15 Jan 2002 : Column 179W

commences which is expected to be at the end of January 2002. However, it will remain subject to review and change.

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001, Official Report, column 479W, if it is his intention that an asylum seeker who has been accommodated in a reception centre or accommodation centre immediately prior to being recognised as a refugee or being granted exceptional leave to remain, will have to establish a local connection when making an application for housing assistance from a local authority under Part VI of the Housing Act 1996. [26767]

Ms Keeble: I have been asked to reply.

Housing applicants who have been accommodated in a reception centre or accommodation centre and who have been granted either refugee status or exceptional leave to remain would be treated on the same basis as all other applicants.

Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, local housing authorities must consider all applications for housing or housing assistance where they have reason to believe the applicant is, or may be, homeless or threatened with homelessness. They may also take account of whether or not applicants have a local connection with the district of another local housing authority, if they wish.

Where an applicant is eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, the authority dealing with the application must accept responsibility for any duty owed, if the applicant has a local connection with the authority's district or does not have any local connection with any district in England, Wales and Scotland. If such an applicant does not have a local connection with the authority's district but does have one with another district, the authority may seek to refer the applicant to the authority in the other district.


Next Section Index Home Page