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Interior Minister for Greece
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Interior Minister for Greece. [64837]
Mr. Blunkett: I have not met the Interior Minister for Greece. I have, however, had a bilateral with Mr. Michalis Chrysohoides, Greek Public Order Minister, on 24 January this year in London. As we approach the Greek Presidency of the European Union, I intend to meet Greek Ministers responsible for Justice and Home Affairs.
Annual Leave
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual leave entitlement is for staff in his Department in 2002. [64610]
Beverley Hughes: Due to fluctuating numbers in each grade information on average annual leave entitlements could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The current leave entitlement for staff in the Home Office and its Agencies is as follows:
| Leave entitlement | ||
|---|---|---|
| Non-agency Home Office i.e. excluding the Prison Service, Passport and Records Agency and Forensic Science Service | ||
| Band A | Grades up to and including Higher Executive Officer and equivalents: 22 days on entry, 25 days after one year's service and 30 days after 13 years. | |
| Band B | Grades above Higher Executive Officer, up to and including Grade 6 and equivalents: 25 days on entry and 30 days after 10 years' service. | |
| Prison Service | ||
| Band A | Prison Officers: 22 days on entry, 25 days annual leave after one year's service and 30 days after 18 years. | |
| Band B | Generalist grades up to and including Manager 'E' and equivalents. 25 days on entry and 30 days after 16 years service (from 1 March 2002). | |
| Band C | Generalist grades Senior Manager D—A and above or equivalents. 30 days on entry which does not increase. | |
| Passport and Records Agency | ||
| One band | All staff receive 25 days on entry and 30 days after 10 years' service. | |
| Forensic Science Service | ||
| Band A | Grades up to and including Higher Executive Officer and equivalents: 22 days on entry, 25 days after one year's service and 30 days after 10 years. | |
| Band B | Grades above Higher Executive Officer, up to and including Grade 6 and equivalents: 25 days on entry and 30 days after 10 years' service. | |
There have been a number of changes over the last four years to the annual leave entitlements of staff in the above bands. These have all primarily been aimed at reducing the qualifying period for the maximum leave allowance of 30 days.
- Senior Civil Service
- The annual leave entitlement for staff in the Senior Civil Service is set centrally by the Cabinet Office and is currently 30 days.
Brixton Prison
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been transferred out of Brixton compulsorily since 1996. [65437]
Hilary Benn: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly with a detailed answer.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population is of HMP Brixton; and how many of those prisoners are Irish nationals. [65441]
Hilary Benn: On 27 June 2002 the population of Brixton prison was 752. Of those prisoners 30 are Irish nationals.
Prison Recalls
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals during the last
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12 months had their licence revoked and were recalled to prisons in England and Wales. [65418]
Hilary Benn: During the 12-month period ending 31 May 2002, 4,773 determinate prisoners and 19 life sentence prisoners were recalled to prison using the Secretary of State's powers to revoke a prisoner's licence pursuant to sections 38(a)(1) and 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.
Prisoners serving a sentence of less than four years and who committed their earliest offence prior to 1 January 1999 or who were released on a statutory notice of supervision can only be recalled by the courts.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average delay incurred was before prisoners received representation packs after they were recalled to prison in the last 12 months. [65419]
Hilary Benn: The Prison Service target for issuing representation packs to determinate sentence prisoners after they have been recalled to prison is five working days. During the 12 month period ending 31 May 2002, 76 per cent. of representation packs were issued within target. Information on the average delay in issuing these packs is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Prisons
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new prisons have been built since 1997; and how many have had buildings modernised. [66644]
Hilary Benn [holding answer 4 July 2002]: Since 1997, eight new prisons have been built and opened which are:
| Year | New prisons | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Altcourse | Liverpool, Merseyside |
| 1997 | Parc | Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan |
| 1998 | Lowdham | Nottingham |
| 1999 | Weare(26) | Portland, Dorset |
| 2000 | Forest Bank | Manchester |
| 2000 | Ashfield | Bristol, Avon |
| 2000 | Dovergate | Uttoxeter, Staffordshire |
| 2001 | Rye Hill | Rugby, Warwickshire |
(26) Floating facility
Since 1997, the Prison Service has built new accommodation blocks at: Acklington, Ashwell, Aylesbury, Bullingdon, Bullwood Hall, Castington, Deerbolt, Downview, Eastwood Park, Elmley, Erlestoke, Foston Hall, Frankland, Garth, Guys Marsh, Highpoint, Holme House, Huntercombe, Kirklevington, Littlehey, Long Lartin, Moorland, Mount, New Hall, Nottingham, Norwich, Onley, Ranby, Send, Spring Hill, Stocken, Stoke Heath, Styal, Swaleside, Swinfen Hall, Wayland, Wealstun, Wellingborough, Werrington and Wetherby. Projects in progress not included.
Since 1997, the Prison Service has modernised accommodation in the form of refurbishments or replacements at: Aylesbury, Brixton, Camp Hill, Canterbury, Cardiff, Castington, Feltham, Haverigg, Kingston, Kirkham, Leeds, Lewes, Lincoln, Parkhurst, Pentonville, Stoke Heath, Wakefield, Wandsworth and Wormwood Scrubs. Projects in progress not included.
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PRIME MINISTER
The Dome
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) Departments and (b) Ministers with responsibility for (i) the Millennium Dome and (ii) the Millennium Experience since 2 May 1997. [64579]
The Prime Minister: The Department of National Heritage, renamed the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July 1997, was responsible for the Dome until the end of June 2001, when responsibility was passed to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. In May 2002, responsibility was transferred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister under machinery of Government changes.
The Department of National Heritage, renamed the Department for Culture Media and Sport in July 1997, has been the Department responsible for the New Millennium Experience Company, which built the Dome and operated the Millennium Experience, since 2 May 1997.
The Ministers with responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company and the Dome since 2 May 1997 have been as follows. My right hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) was responsible, in a caretaker role, from May to July 1997, when responsibility was transferred to the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson). Responsibility was transferred from Peter Mandelson back to Chris Smith, again in a caretaker role, in December 1998. In January 1999, responsibility was transferred to Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC. Pending final decisions on the allocation of ministerial portfolios in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Rooker is dealing with policy issues related to the Dome, while responsibility for the New Millennium Experience Company will also transfer to a Minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in accordance with the established procedures in due course.
Ministerial Design Champions Group
Ms Shipley: To ask the Prime Minister who the chairman is of the Ministerial Design Champions Group. [65083]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Culture, Media and Sport today.
Poppy Growing (Afghanistan)
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 1 July on the G8 summit, what the detailed steps were that were discussed at the G8 summit to combat poppy growing in Afghanistan. [66836]
The Prime Minister: The G8 discussed the UK's Anti-narcotics Strategy Paper and Action Plans for Afghanistan which concentrates on four key areas to combat poppy growing: law enforcement, provision of alternative livelihoods, institution building and demand reduction. Agreement was reached that the G8 would step up efforts to assist the Afghan Government in combating this menace in order to eradicate opium production in Afghanistan.
8 Jul 2002 : Column 753W
A copy of the Strategy Paper and Action Plans will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
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