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8 Apr 2003 : Column 211W—continued

Market Research

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure has been incurred by his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental bodies in 2002 on (i) opinion polling, (ii) focus groups and (iii) other forms of market research; and if he will list the surveys commissioned and the purpose of each. [106276]

Hilary Benn: The Home Office research department undertakes a wide range of research activities that support the development of information-led policy, including scientific and social research, and includes research gathered from market research and focus groups.

The department conducts or commissions market and opinion research and focus groups only when it is justified by the specific needs of a particular policy or programme and when this is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose. Consulting and involving the public helps inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality public services.

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It has not been possible to provide information on total costs as complete information is not held centrally. A table of commissioned projects involving some market and opinion research conducted 2002 held centrally has been placed in the Library.

The Research, Development and Statistics (RDS) Conducts social research supporting all seven Home Office aims. A list of RDS publications is available on the Home Office website and copies are also placed in the Library.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many proposed negative decisions under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 have been referred to his Department's legal officers for confirmation since 18 March 2003; and what is the estimated cost to his Department to date of this practice; [106613]

Beverley Hughes: Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, came into force on 8 January 2003. Subject to quality assurance of the data, it is planned to publish information on the operation of section 55 within the quarterly asylum statistics at the end of May 2003.

The Home Office's Legal Advisor's Branch has provided legal support for the operation of section 55. Any legal costs incurred have been subsumed within normal salary costs.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information on where to seek charitable or other support is given by NASS to those refused NASS support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [106614]

Beverley Hughes: Information on alternative support arrangements that may be provided by charities and other organisations is widely available to asylum applicants refused by the National Asylum Support Service support under section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. Advice on specific options in the area and sources of further information is given on request.

Political Asylum Claimants

Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department

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has had with Gosport borough council concerning the possible use of the Daedalus site as an accommodation centre for political asylum claimants. [107682]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 7 April 2003]: I met the Leader and Chief Executive of Gosport borough council on 20 March. There have been four further meetings between representatives of my Department and Gosport borough council since February.

8 Apr 2003 : Column 214W

Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the population per police officer was in each year since 1997 in each police force area in England and Wales. [107299]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The table gives population per police officer in each police force area in England and Wales in each year from 1997 to 2002.

Force31 March 199731 March 199831 March 199931 March 200031 March 200131 March 200230 September 2002
Avon and Somerset490493493507501488476
Bedfordshire499509530541543529522
Cambridgeshire533545559582559536508
Cheshire478480474489491478474
Cleveland383376393396395381364
Cumbria429422437455470446439
Derbyshire535543549546534529486
Devon and Cornwall538521537549535520502
Dorset529521538529511506495
Durham416401388390380376358
Essex(22)509517527547558553541
Gloucestershire488504507500479478482
Greater Manchester373371378379373358338
Hampshire505502507518518513495
Hertfordshire(22)488496506497543576544
Humberside435439448457460428411
Kent476479489491478476460
Lancashire439437439449438433419
Leicestershire474468466466460447443
Lincolnshire511517544559523529534
City of London(23)
Merseyside337337336345344340331
Metropolitan Police(22)272281284293285273260
Norfolk540544567572561548539
Northamptonshire509517537551537516525
Northumbria391381372376368360345
North Yorkshire546537552578573532535
Nottinghamshire444444464468454443424
South Yorkshire413410412412407407394
Staffordshire478461474489498497483
Suffolk557558560586596565545
Surrey(22)479483472441522543533
Sussex474491522531531526510
Thames valley554547557561571566546
Warwickshire539542555563548526503
West Mercia546556556602585568566
West Midlands371369359365354341325
West Yorkshire404409424438439434416
Wiltshire512513521542545530526
Dyfed Powys472476466461456426427
Gwent364451447441437418416
North Wales481470472469455438443
South Wales447413415424394387380
Total of 43 forces414417422430427416402
Total including secondments408410414422419409396

(22) These forces have been affected by the boundary changes which took place in April 2000.

(23) The population per police officer for City of London is included in the Metropolitan Police.


Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations. [107786]

Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The Police Pension (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2003, which came into force on 1 April, amended certain provisions in the Police Pensions Regulations 1987 in order to underpin the new procedures agreed by the Police Negotiating Board on 30 January for the fairer and more consistent management of ill-health retirement. We consulted the Police Negotiating Board on the draft amendment regulations before they were made, but apart from drafting points we have received no representations about them.

Prison Service

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations made by Patrick Carter in his Review of PFI and Market Testing in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement. [107292]

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Hilary Benn: The Carter report, a copy of which was placed in the Library on 26 February 2002, was welcomed by Ministers at the time of its publication. Much work has been done to develop the issues raised in the recommendations, particularly those involving the development of a performance improvement programme and the development of large-scale multi-function prisons.

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in each prison are sharing (a) two to a cell designed for one and (b) three to a cell designed for two. [105400]

Hilary Benn: The following table shows the number of prisoners in each prison held two to a cell designed for one at the end of February 2003. Data are provisional and subject to validation by prisons.

The Prison Service does not collect centrally the number of prisoners held three in a double cell. Overall, the percentage of prisoners doubling up was 20.2.

Prison nameTwo to a cell designed for one
Altcourse776
Askham Grange0
Acklington0
Albany0
Ashfield0
Ashwell12
Aylesbury0
Belmarsh0
Blundeston40
Bedford272
Blantyre House0
Brockhill0
Bristol90
Birmingham398
Bullingdon128
Brinsford48
Blakenhurst226
Bullwood Hall8
Brixton234
Buckley Hall22
Chelmsford302
Cardiff528
Camp Hill0
Cookham Wood36
Coldingley0
Castington0
Channings Wood38
Canterbury218
Dartmoor50
Dovegate30
Drake Hall0
Durham330
Doncaster0
Dorchester192
Deerbolt0
Dover0
Downview0
Erlestoke0
Standford Hill0
East Sutton Park0
Everthorpe0
Eastwood Park28
Exeter0
Elmley240
Forest Bank0
Ford0
Frankland0
Feltham0
Full Sutton0
Foston Hall0
Featherstone24
Garth20
Gloucester198
Guys Marsh68
Grendon0
Glen Parva372
Gartree0
Hollesley Bay0
Huntercombe0
Hatfield0
Hewell Grange0
Holme House234
Hindley10
Hull200
High Down0
Highpoint54
Haslar0
Haverigg14
Holloway0
Kirkham0
Kirklevington0
Lancaster176
Leicester320
Leeds946
Lancaster Farms32
Lindholme0
Lincoln246
Long Lartin0
Latchmere House0
Low Newton70
Lowdham Grange16
Liverpool512
Littlehey72
Lewes138
Leyhill0
Moorland56
Morton Hall0
Manchester708
Maidstone0
Mount110
New Hall64
Nottingham316
Northallerton150
North Sea Camp0
Norwich370
Onley0
Portland0
Parkhurst0
Preston610
Parc0
Kingston0
Pentonville418
Rochester0
Reading176
Rye Hill74
Ranby190
Risley0
Send0
Stafford418
Stoke Heath204
Stocken26
Swaleside26
Shepton Mallet38
Swinfen Hall0
Styal28
Sudbury0
Swansea270
Shrewsbury298
Thorn Cross0
Usk212
Prescoed0
Verne68
Weare0
Wellingborough0
Winchester322
Wakefield0
Wealstun0
Woodhill210
Wayland76
Wymott0
Werrington0
Wolds0
Whitemoor0
Wormwood Scrubs124
Whatton0
Wandsworth806
Wetherby0

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Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 6 March 2003, Official Report, column 1243W, on prisons (1) how many prisoners were held in police cells in each year between 1995 and 2002; and if he will make a statement; [106665]

Hilary Benn: From January 1995 to May 1995 an average of 205 prisoners a month, who would normally be held in Prison Service accommodation, were held in police cells under Operation Container. No prisoners were held in police cells from mid-1995 to July 2002. From 12 July 2002 to 20 December 2002 an average of 199 prisoners a month were held in police cells under Operation Safeguard.

It is not possible to predict how many prisoners will be held in police cells at any point in the future. The use of police cells is dependent on the population pressures at the time, and the number used can vary on a daily basis. Their use is carefully monitored by the Prison Service and every effort is made to locate prisoners held in police cells to a prison as soon as possible.

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of young prisoners with mental health needs since 1997 (a) had already had those needs identified and (b) were already receiving mental health services before coming into custody; and if he will make a statement. [107201]

Hilary Benn: The information sought is not available in the form requested. In 2000, the Office for National Statistics published a report, 'Psychiatric Morbidity amongst Young Offenders in England and Wales', which contained further analysis of data obtained during the survey of mental ill health in the prison population of England and Wales that it undertook in 1997. This report indicated that 13 per cent. of young men on remand, 11 per cent. of sentenced young men and 29 per cent. of all young women said they had received help or treatment for mental, nervous, or emotional problems in the year before they came into prison.

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Only people who had been in prison for less than two years were asked this question because it was felt that people who had been in prison for longer would not be able to recall the information accurately.

In comparison, 11 per cent. of young men on remand, 14 per cent. of sentenced young men and 23 per cent. of all young women reported receiving help for such problems in prison during the past year, or, if they had not been in custody that long, since coming into prison.

Young offenders who had been receiving help for mental or emotional problems in the year before coming into prison were more likely to report receiving such help while in prison. While 29 per cent. of young men on remand and 43 per cent. of women who said they had been receiving treatment before coming into prison reported receiving treatment in prison, this was true for only 8 per cent. and 16 per cent. respectively of those who had not had treatment.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is collected about a prisoner as part of the reception screening process; and if he will make a statement. [107310]

Hilary Benn: On the reception of a prisoner into a prison, information is collected by reception and health care staff. It includes personal details and any outstanding court appearances. An assessment is made of the prisoner's immediate physical and health care needs, and to identify recent substance abuse, and the potential for self-harm or harm to others. Prisoners are also asked about any urgent domestic issues and are permitted to make a phone call.

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of a drug prison rehabilitation programme is. [107309]

Hilary Benn: There are three different types of intensive prison drug rehabilitation programmes. The average length of treatment intervention is given in the following table:

Programme typeAverage length
12-Step12 weeks
Cognitive Behavioural Treatment15 weeks
Therapeutic Community12–18 months

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners entered HMP YOI Styal (a) in 2002 and (b) since January 2003 with drug misuse problems; and if he will make a statement. [106792]

Hilary Benn: On arrival at Styal prison, each prisoner sees a doctor and has an opportunity to discuss any drug misuse problem. Statistics are not routinely collected on the number of women prisoners reporting drug misuse problems. However, those members of staff working with drug misusers at Styal estimate that over the last two years approximately 75 per cent. of the total number of receptions have had drug problems.

8 Apr 2003 : Column 219W


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