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1 Sept 2003 : Column 1001W—continued
Treason Felony Act
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to propose the repeal of section 3 of the Treason Felony Act 1848; and if he will make a statement. [126688]
Paul Goggins: We have no immediate plans to repeal section 3 of the Treason Felony Act 1848.
Unsafe Convictions
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) housing provision, (b) benefits, (c) support and (d) financial support prior to compensation being paid is available to those released from custodial sentences after the conviction was found to be unsafe; and if he will make a statement. [124513]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 8 July 2003]: The Home Office funded advice service for individuals released on appeal against conviction was launched in January this year. It is being piloted by Citizens Advice at the Royal Courts of Justice. Citizens' Advice is not in a position to provide direct financial support but are an advisory link into other services. Citizens Advice will assist clients by advising on compensation processes, facilitating and supporting clients to access appropriate benefits and housing services. It will provide support for other aspects of reintegration into the community such as assisting the client to look for education, training and employment opportunities.
Written Ministerial Statements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many written ministerial statements have been made by the Department since 29 October 2002. [126622]
Fiona Mactaggart: Between 29 October 2002 and 17 July 2003 the Home Office made a total of 132 written ministerial statements.
Wheel Clamping Companies
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many wheel clamping companies have been registered by the Security Industry Authority since it was established. [124843]
Caroline Flint: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will begin to compile a public register of licence holders as soon as personal licensing begins.
The SIA came into existence on 1 April 2003. It is expected that the SIA will pilot the first phase of licensing, of door supervisors, in spring 2004 in the Hampshire police area and thereafter rollout out the licensing of door supervisors across England and Wales from summer 2004. The timetable for the licensing of wheel clampers is currently under consideration. The SIA will also operate an approved company scheme.
In preparation for the rollout of licensing, the SIA maintains a record of those people who have supplied their details on a voluntary basis. Up to 10 July, a total of 790 individuals from the wheel clamping sector have registered with the Authority. The SIA will contact them in due course to supply them with the information that they need to apply for a licence when the time comes.
1 Sept 2003 : Column 1002W
Women Prisoners
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) average daily number of women in prisons in England and (b) the total number of women received into prisons was in each of the last 12 months. [124990]
Paul Goggins: The number of women in prisons in England in each of the last 12 months is given in the table. The data represents month-end figures.
| Number of women in prisons | |
|---|---|
| April 2002 | 4,370 |
| May 2002 | 4,403 |
| June 2002 | 4,394 |
| July 2002 | 4,372 |
| August 2002 | 4,362 |
| September 2002 | 4,403 |
| October 2002 | 4,427 |
| November 2002 | 4,368 |
| December 2002 | 4,077 |
| January 2003 | 4,214 |
| February 2003 | 4,349 |
| March 2003 | 4,470 |
The number of first receptions of women into Prison Service establishments in each of the last 12 months is given in the table.
| Total | |
|---|---|
| April 2002 | 1,128 |
| May 2002 | 1,249 |
| June 2002 | 963 |
| July 2002 | 1,150 |
| August 2002 | 1,065 |
| September 2002 | 1,018 |
| October 2002 | 1,057 |
| November 2002 | 970 |
| December 2002 | 781 |
| January 2003 | 1,051 |
| February 2003 | 1,052 |
| March 2003 | 1,173 |
Young Offenders
Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls aged 15 have been placed in a young offenders institution since 1 October 2002; in which institutions they were held; and for how long. [124849]
Paul Goggins: Six girls aged 15 have been placed in a young offenders institution since 1 October 2002. Five were placed at New Hall and one at Brockhill. The details are as follows:
- (i) girl aged 15 and 2 months placed in New Hall on 21 November 2002, transferred to a local authority secure children's home on 22 November 2002;
(ii) girl aged 15 and 7 months placed in New Hall on 22 November 2002, transferred to a local authority secure children's home on 2 December 2002;
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(iii) girl aged 15 and 10 months placed in New Hall from 25 October 2002 to 24 December 2002;
(iv) girl aged 15 and 10 months placed in Brockhill from 3 October 2002 to 31 December 2002
(v) girl aged 15 and 11 months placed in New Hall from 7 November 2002 to 5 February 2003.
(vi) girl aged 15 and 11 months placed in New Hall from 27 November 2002 to 26 January 2003.
Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been transferred from each secure training centre and local authority secure home to a young offenders institution to date in 2003. [124850]
Paul Goggins: The placement of offenders under 18 in secure accommodation is the responsibility of the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales. The Youth Justice Board confirms that the following transfers from secure training centres and local authority secure children's homes to young offender institutions have been made in 2003:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Hassocksfield | 10 |
| Medway | 14 |
| Rainsbrook | 4 |
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Aldine House | 1 |
| Atkinson | 2 |
| Aycliffe | 1 |
| Dales House | 1 |
| Eastmoor | 2 |
| Leverton | 1 |
| Sutton Place | 2 |
1 Sept 2003 : Column 1004W
Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles in each of the young offenders institutions were injured by other inmates in each month in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [124851]
Paul Goggins: Male juveniles are located in five establishments dedicated solely to juveniles and in nine other establishments that also hold young offenders. Female juveniles are held in seven establishments that also hold young offenders and, in some cases, adult female prisoners.
The Prison Service's incident reporting system records data by establishment and the extraction of data relating purely to juveniles in respect of assaults occurring in the split function establishments cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.
The following table provides information on the number of assaults resulting in injury by juveniles on juveniles, in respect of the five establishments that hold male juveniles only. The term 'juvenile' covers prisoners who are over 18 but are serving a Detention Training Order having been under 18 at the commencement of the Order.
| Month/year | Ashfield | Huntercombe | Warren Hill | Werrington | Wetherby |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2002 | 33 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| February 2002 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| March 2002 | 16 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
| April 2002 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| May 2002 | 24 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 2 |
| June 2002 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| July 2002 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 5 |
| August 2002 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| September 2002 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| October 2002 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| November 2002 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| December 2002 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 1 |
| January 2003 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| February 2003 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
| March 2003 | 20 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 5 |
| April 2003 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 13 |
| May 2003 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| June 2003 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| Totals | 281 | 67 | 81 | 96 | 71 |
The figures are as reported to Prison Service headquarters by establishments.
Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures are in place for strip searching girls who are menstruating. [124852]
Paul Goggins: Strip searching of women prisoners is conducted in accordance with procedures outlined in the Security Manual. There is particular emphasis on ensuring that the dignity of the prisoner being strip searched is protected as far as is possible. To this end, male members of staff are not allowed in the general area where strip searching is undertaken. The prisoner is never totally naked and staff are required to be sensitive to the feelings of the prisoner.
Where women or girls are menstruating and are using sanitary protection in the form of pads, the prisoner removes the pad from her underwear herself and places it in a specially provided sanitary bin. The search is conducted swiftly and fresh pads are available to the prisoner once the search is completed.
1 Sept 2003 : Column 1005W
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile offenders are detained in Coventry; and how many were detained in Coventry on 30 June in each of the last five years.[126047]
Paul Goggins: The number of juveniles detained at Stoke House, a Local Authority Secure Unit in Coventry, from 2000 to 2002 is given in the table. Information is not available for June 1999. Stoke House closed on 20 September 2002.
| As at 30 June | Number of juveniles detained at Stoke House |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 7 |
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what recent meetings have been held between his Department and the Department of Health to examine issues surrounding ADD/ADHD in Young Offenders Institutions; [123765]
1 Sept 2003 : Column 1006W
- (2) what steps his Department has taken to assess the implications of behavioural difficulties of attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder of young people in Young Offenders Institutions.[123767]
Paul Goggins: Mental health care issues, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are regularly discussed by staff in both departments in order to carry out the commitments for mental health in the NHS Plan. The NHS Plan includes provision for prisoners and a total of £10 million is being invested in 2003–04 to improve mental health services for them. Mental Health needs assessments were carried in all prison establishments last autumn to better gauge that need. By 2004 some 94 prisons, including all male local prisons and the majority of women's local prisons and young offender institutions will have received funding for community mental health in-reach teams to provide more comprehensive services for prisoners with severe mental health problems.