Previous Section Index Home Page

12 Jul 2005 : Column 911W—continued

Passports

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of issuing (a) existing passports and (b) passports with a facial biometric (i) based on a suitable quality photograph provided by the applicant and (ii) based on a photograph taken by the Passport Office, (A) excluding and (B) including the cost of operating and maintaining the record system and overhead costs. [9937]

Andy Burnham: All passports issued use photographs provided by the applicants, none are taken by the Passport Service. In 2004–05 the actual average unit cost of issuing and delivering just over six million passports was £38.30. In 2005–06 the Passport Service will begin issuing passports containing facial biometrics, these will be phased in progressively during the last quarter of 2005–06 and the first quarter of 2006–07. The average unit cost of producing passports, including an element for the facial biometric will be:


 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 912W
 

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which company was awarded the contract to manufacture the chips used in biometric passports. [11151]

Andy Burnham: The new central and regional biometric passport (ePassport) production facilities are to be procured through the existing Security Printing and Systems Ltd. (SPSL) printing contract. SPSL will be required to procure key components though sub-contracts, with UKPS participation to endure value for money and the best technical solution. Detailed commercial negotiations for the production of ePassports are continuing, and a contract is expected to be signed in August 2005. Any sub-contract awarded for the manufacture and supply of chips to be used in ePassports would thereafter be placed by SPSL. Such a contract has not yet been placed.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Passport Office's plans to require interviews for renewals of and applications for passports. [11181]

Andy Burnham: A written statement announcing the decision to require interviews for adult first time passport applicants was made by my right hon. Friend
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 913W
 
the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr. Browne) on 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 172WS.

Personal attendance for passport renewals would become necessary in connection with the addition of fingerprints to biometric passports, and interview of all passport applicants would provide a further strengthening of UK Passport Service premises in line with International practises. The EU has decided that fingerprints should be included in passports issued by member states in the Schengen area, within three years of agreement on the technical specification. The UK is currently excluded from this requirement but there would be disadvantages for British passport holders if UK passports were issued to a lower standard than those of other EU member states. The UK is currently challenging its exclusion, and in parallel is considering whether to mirror the EU requirement. A statement will be made when final decisions have been made.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Department has made of the cost-effectiveness of the proposed interview scheme in the Passport Office. [11182]

Andy Burnham: The Passport Service's Authentication by Interview (AbI) scheme is intended both to deter and to detect fraudulent applications among adult first time applicants but its business case has been constructed on its potential deterrent effect, for which evidence exists. UKPS data sampling has identified the first time adult channel as accounting for 74 per cent. of all fraudulent applications, although this group accounts for less than 10 per cent. of all applications processed annually by the Agency. AbI closes the loophole that currently exists in the postal application system by bringing together the physical applicant, and current biographical information, to ensure they are one and the same. A fraudster will now be faced with having to act out their false identity, and risk a real possibility of detection. There have been a number of instances in the past where the requirement to attend for interview would have enabled UKPS to identify a fraudulent application and prevent the issue of a passport in a false identity. The estimated cost of the scheme in its year of introduction is aggregated within the total estimated unit cost of £67.93 for 2006–07, published within the UKPS Corporate and Business Plan. The benefit the scheme is designed to deliver is in deterring fraudulent passport applications and thus contributing to the overall fight against identity fraud and reducing numbers of such frauds with consequent benefits to the individual and to the UK public and private sectors.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons his Department considers interviews to be the most effective way of targeting passport fraud; and what alternative methods for stopping fraud it has assessed. [11183]

Andy Burnham: The introduction of interviews is one of a range of initiatives the UK Passport Service is taking forward to reduce passport fraud through improved detection and prevention, as indicated in its 2005–10 Corporate and Business Plan. The Passport Service's programme of work which has been informed
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 914W
 
by, and is closely related to the recommendations of the Cabinet Office study on identity fraud published in 2002, includes:

The planned interviews will be conducted after improved checking of the information provided by applicants, including database checks. The interview will then enable genuine applicants to demonstrate their knowledge of the identity claimed but will face fraudulent applicants with the likelihood of detection. The interview will have an important deterrent effect, and will close off loopholes associated with illegal immigration where the applicant is often not in the UK and would be unable to answer questions related to residence in the UK. Only a procedure that includes an interview will enable the UKPS to confirm that the intended passport holder is the rightful owner of the identity claimed and to close the loophole that is inevitable when applications can be submitted by post.

Prisons

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates have escaped from prisons in London in each year since 1997. [8304]

Fiona Mactaggart: The table shows that there were seven KPI recorded escapes between the period 1997–98 to the present date.
Financial yearTotal number of escapesPrison
1997–981HMP Belmarsh
1998–993Pentonville
Wormwood scrubs
Feltham
1999–20000
2000–010
2001–021Feltham
2002–031Brixton
2003–040
2004–051Pentonville
Total KPI escapes7

An escape is classified as a escape if a prisoner is unlawfully at large for more than 15 minutes.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many UK prisons have (a) been refurbished and (b) newly built since 1997; [8461]

(2) how many prisons there are in England; and if he will list each prison. [8462]


 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 915W
 

Fiona Mactaggart: Prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament and the Secretary of State for the Northern Ireland respectively.

Refurbishment in prisons occurs on a continuing basis, as the need arises. For example a wing, kitchen or gym may be refurbished, dependent on need. No prison has been refurbished in its entirety since 1997.

There have been nine newly built prisons opened in England and Wales since 1997.

There are 139 prisons in England and Wales. This includes three prisons which contain separate units located on one site: Moorland (open and closed), Usk/Prescoed and Grendon/Spring Hill. This number also includes Dover and Haslar, which are managed by the Prison Service on behalf of the immigration and nationality directorate. All prisons in England and Wales are listed as follows:

Public Prisons:


 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 916W
 


 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 917W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average annual cost of keeping a person in prison was in the last period for which figures are available. [8989]

Fiona Mactaggart: In 2003–04 the average cost per prisoner was £25,377 for contracted prisons and £25,718 for public sector prisons.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were held in prison awaiting deportation on 24 June, broken down by (a) those who have been awaiting deportation for (i) one week, (ii) two to four weeks, (iii) four to eight weeks, (iv) eight to 12 weeks and (v) more than 12 weeks and (b) nationality. [9002]


 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 918W
 

Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the number of people who were detained in prison establishments awaiting deportation after completion of a criminal sentence is not available.

Work is ongoing to improve the quality of data held on those people detained under Immigration Act powers in Prison Service establishments.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies there were in each prison establishment for (a) prison officers and (b) other prison staff as at 24 June. [9003]

Fiona Mactaggart: The latest information on staff vacancies for each public sector prison establishment relates to staff in post at 31 May and is calculated by comparing the operational staffing requirements as at 30 June. This snapshot is contained in the table.

Information on required staffing levels within prisons managed by the private sector is not collected centrally in this form and is therefore not available.

Overall, Officer recruitment continues at a high level compared with previous years and the Service-wide shortfall among operational staff is well within an acceptable operating margin. To cover any vacancies in the short-term, certain establishments are allowing officers to work additional hours as part of the 'Contracted Supplementary Hours Scheme'. This scheme contributed the equivalent of 412 full-time officers at 31 March 2005. At that time the total operational staff availability was 25,858 compared to an operational staffing requirement of 26,087, resulting in a Service-wide shortfall of just 0.9 per cent.

Staffing levels in non-operational roles are more fluid and vacancy figures require qualification. This is in part due to the number of reviews taking place across the Prison Service and on-going work to introduce greater efficiencies which has led to decisions to leave posts unfilled.
Shortfall of staff in post 31 May 2005 against operational staffing requirement 1 July 2005
EstablishmentOfficersOther staff
Acklington93
Albany76
Ashwell813
Askham Grange4
Aylesbury135
Bedford728
Belmarsh2918
Birmingham2212
Blakenhurst15
Blantyre House13
Blundeston
Brinsford16
Bristol1520
Brixton145
Brockhill58
Buckley Hall13
Bullingdon2215
Bullwood Hall9
Camp Hill2
Canterbury311
Cardiff5
Castington
Channings Wood311
Chelmsford11
Coldingley83
Cookham Wood
Dartmoor16
Deerbolt2
Dorchester
Dover10
Downview5
Drake Hall1
Durham130
East Button Park1
Eastwood Park3435
Edmunds Hill
Elmley314
Erlestoke67
Everthorpe
Exeter112
Featherstone315
Feltham1729
Ford925
Foston Hall1112
Frankland421
Full Button1927
Garth74
Gartree2620
Glen Parva723
Gloucester16
Grendon5
Guys Marsh412
Haslar3
Haverigg811
Hewell Grange17
High Down122
Highpoint22
Hindley142
Hollesley Bay2
Holloway25
Holme House414
Hull
Huntercombe2223
Kingston55
Kirkham412
Kirklevington Grange2
Lancaster21
Lancaster Farms8
Latchmere House41
Leeds1
Leicester9
Lewes3
Leyhill320
Lincoln
Lindholme
Littlehey611
Liverpool
Long Lartin1315
Low Newton5
Maidstone22
Manchester3218
Moorland
Morton Hall2
New Hall378
North Sea Camp314
Northallerton26
Norwich33
Nottingham
Onley1314
Parkhurst1230
Pentonville212
Portland817
Preston2
Ranby5
Reading14
Risley16
Rochester19
Send48
Shepton Mallet1
Shrewsbury
Stafford
Standford Hill5
Stocken9
Stoke Heath1411
Styal76
Sudbury212
Swaleside
Swansea
Swinfen Hall125
The Mount1216
The Verne
Thorn Cross33
Usk/Prescoed
Wakefield88
Wandsworth1758
Warren Hill3
Wayland116
Wealstun5
Weare97
Wellingborough410
Werrington34
Wetherby6
Whatton
Whitemoor4162
Winchester19
Woodhill1731
Wormwood Scrubs23
Wymott1319
Total8441,068




Note:
Establishments showing —" currently have no shortfall of staff





 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 920W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have escaped from each prison in the first six months of 2005; and how many have not been recaptured. [9004]

Fiona Mactaggart: In February 2005 there were two escapes from the Verne prison and both prisoners have been recaptured. There have been no other escapes during this period.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prison officers and (b) non-uniformed prison staff were working in Her Majesty's Prison Service on 24 June. [9005]

Fiona Mactaggart: On 31 May 2005, the closest day to 24 June for which information is available, there were (a) 24,400 officers and (b) 23, 774 other prison staff working in the public sector Prison Service. These two figures represent the total staffing of the public sector Prison Service but include 7,271 operational support grades and 1,131 nurses who would be expected towear a uniform. Non-uniformed staff carry out arange of functions, covering operational management, chaplaincy, psychology, industrial work, administration, catering and farms and gardens. Staffing numbers within privately managed establishments are not collected by the Office for Contracted Prisons and are therefore not available.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires there were in prisons in the first five months of 2005, broken down by prison; and whether (a) prison staff and (b) prisoners were hurt in each case. [9006]

Fiona Mactaggart: There have been 414 fires in prisons between 1 January and 31 May 2005. The following table gives a breakdown of incidents by establishment. Information is not held centrally on the number of staff or prisoners injured as a result of these incidents and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 921W
 

EstablishmentTotals
Acklington1
Altcourse4
Ashfield1
Ashwell1
Bedford2
Belmarsh1
Birmingham4
Blakenhurst7
Brinsford5
Bristol3
Brixton6
Bronzefield3
Buckley Hall4
Bullingdon2
Bullwood Hall7
Camphill9
Castington2
Channings Wood2
Chelmsford7
Dartmoor2
Deerbolt8
Doncaster3
Dorchester1
Dovegate2
Downview5
Durham15
Eastwood Park17
Edmunds Hill2
Elmley4
Erlestoke1
Exeter4
Featherstone1
Feltham24
Ford1
Forest Bank9
Foston Hall4
Frankland3
Full Sutton10
Garth1
Glen Parva1
Gloucester4
Guys Marsh1
Hewell Grange1
Highdown10
Highpoint9
Hindley5
Hollesley Bay1
Holloway1
Hull4
Huntercombe3
Kirklevington1
Lancaster Farms4
Leeds7
Lewes5
Lincoln4
Lindholme3
Littlehey1
Liverpool4
Long Lartin2
Lowdham Grange2
Low Newton9
Maidstone2
Manchester5
Moorland1
Morton Hall4
New Hall4
Norwich5
Nottingham2
Parc4
Parkhurst8
Pentonville4
Portland5
Preston4
Ranby2
Reading2
Risley7
Rochester3
Rye Hill5
Stafford1
Stoke Heath5
Styal5
Swaleside3
Swansea3
The Mount2
The Verne1
Wakefield4
Wandsworth20
Wayland2
Wellingborough6
Wetherby1
Whitemoor5
Winchester5
Wolds1
Woodhill2
Wormwood Scrubs9
Wymott2
Total414

 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 922W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the sites which are under consideration for the building of new prisons. [9007]

Fiona Mactaggart: Although a number of sites have previously been identified as potentially suitable, no decision to buy a site has been made. If a site is under consideration for acquisition, details could not be disclosed for commercial reasons. Any Member in whose constituency where we have decided to buy a site or where we are planning to build a new prison will be kept up to date on developments by the Home Office.

The National Offender Management Service owns two sites at Merseyside and Thamesmead, London, but no decision has been taken to build on them.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons and detention centres are fitted with sprinkler equipment; and which areas of each such establishment are protected by the sprinkler system. [9008]

Fiona Mactaggart: Prison kitchens and workshops are the high risk areas in which sprinklers are widely installed. The only prison establishment that has sprinklers in the living accommodation is the prison ship HMP Weare.

The current situation with regard to sprinklers in Detention Centres is:

All prisons and detention centres manage fire risks by means of detailed evacuation and fire strategy plans.
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 923W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals were held in prisons in England and Wales on 24 June, broken down by (a) nationality and (b) prison. [9009]

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is not available for 24 June. Information for 31 May 2005, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the tables.
Population of foreign nationals in prison establishments(17), by establishment, England and Wales, 31 May 2005

Number
Total9,576
Acklington18
Albany34
Altcourse30
Ashfield7
Ashwell47
Askham Grange4
Aylesbury60
Bedford60
Belmarsh212
Birmingham136
Blakenhurst68
Blantyre House5
Blundeston107
Brinsford17
Bristol53
Brixton271
Brockhill9
Bronzefield131
Buckley Hall25
Bullingdon128
Bullwood Hall20
Camp Hill97
Canterbury35
Cardiff52
Castington5
Channings Wood31
Chelmsford126
Coldingly75
Cookham Wood32
Dartmoor37
Deerbolt5
Doncaster74
Dorchester20
Dovegate89
Dover320
Downview83
Drake Hall61
Durham24
East Sutton Park20
Eastwood Park14
Edmunds Hill31
Elmley215
Erlestoke30
Everthorpe11
Exeter22
Featherstone48
Feltham193
Ford136
Forest Bank33
Foston Hall5
Frankland36
Full Sutton55
Garth43
Gartree35
Glen Parva51
Gloucester18
Grendon (Spring Hill)40
Guys Marsh41
Haslar146
Haverigg13
Hewell Grange16
Highdown194
Highpoint South191
Hindley11
Hollesley Bay (Warren Hill)58
Holloway142
Holme House27
Hull49
Huntercombe60
Kingston (Portsmouth)19
Kirkham19
Kirklevington3
Lancaster1
Lancaster Farms12
Latchmere House36
Leeds73
Leicester37
Lewes62
Leyhill51
Lincoln27
Lindholme35
Littlehey94
Liverpool54
Long Lartin55
Low Newton14
Lowdham Grange74
Maidstone114
Manchester147
Moorland23
Moorland Open6
Morton Hall211
Mount193
New Hall20
North Sea Camp21
Northallerton3
Norwich70
Nottingham37
Onley35
Parc35
Parkhurst79
Pentonville344
Peterborough36
Portland67
Preston25
Ranby55
Reading18
Risley43
Rochester73
Rye Hill78
Send39
Shepton Mallet7
Shrewsbury20
Stafford43
Standford Hill100
Stocken46
Stoke Heath21
Styal26
Sudbury42
Swaleside191
Swansea12
Swinfen Hall35
Thorn Cross7
Usk (Prescoed)19
Verne268
Wakefield30
Wandsworth384
Warren Hill19
Wayland147
Wealstun33
Weare53
Wellingborough73
Werrington3
Wetherby7
Whatton24
Whitemoor59
Winchester76
Wolds17
Woodhill114
Wormwood Scrubs624
Wymott44


(17) Figures include persons held in immigration removal centres at Dover, Haslar and Lindholme



 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 925W
 

Population of foreign nationals in prison establishments,(18) by nationality England and Wales, 31 May 2005

Foreign nationalTotal
Total9,576
Total Africa2,416
Algeria139
Angola66
Benin7
Botswana2
Burundi6
Cameroon, United Republic30
Central African Republic11
Chad1
Congo, Republic of75
Congo, Democratic Republic of the45
Co(r)te d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)23
Djibouti1
Egypt26
Equatorial Guinea2
Ethiopia39
French Guiana3
Gabon1
Gambia37
Ghana184
Guinea13
Guinea-Bissau1
Kenya59
Liberia39
Libya21
Malawi15
Mali2
Mauritania3
Mauritius17
Morocco38
Mozambique3
Namibia7
Niger2
Nigeria721
Rwanda10
Sao Tome and Principe1
Senegal7
Seychelles1
Sierra Leone64
Somalia255
South Africa152
Sudan35
Swaziland1
Tanzania14
Togo12
Tunisia13
Uganda63
Zambia18
Zimbabwe134
Total Asia1,277
Bangladesh136
Bhutan1
China219
Hong Kong15
India230
Indonesia4
Japan2
Korea Republic of (Sth)5
Malaysia30
Maldives1
Mongolia5
Myanmar (Burma)3
Nepal6
Pakistan374
Philippines13
Sri Lanka132
Surinam3
Thailand4
Vietnam96
Total Central or South America310
Argentina6
Belize1
Bolivia8
Brazil39
Chile17
Columbia136
Costa Rica4
Ecuador9
Mexico17
Panama1
Paraguay1
Peru3
Uruguay1
Venezuela68
Total Europe2,799
Albania103
Andorra1
Armenia3
Austria7
Azerbijan1
Belgium45
Bosnia-Hercegovina5
Bulgaria10
Croatia11
Cyprus57
Czech Republic19
Denmark8
Estonia6
Finland5
France144
Georgia11
Germany121
Gibraltar4
Greece27
Hungary13
Irish Republic697
Italy105
Kazakhstan4
Kyrgystan3
Latvia34
Lithuania124
Macedonia16
Malta6
Moldova47
Netherlands161
Norway5
Poland99
Portugal177
Romania140
Russia109
Serbia and Montenegro91
Slovakia6
Slovenia2
Spain96
Sweden16
Switzerland9
Turkey254
Total Middle East530
Afghanistan97
Iran120
Iraq218
Israel24
Jordan8
Kuwait10
Lebanon18
Oman1
Republic of Yemen12
Saudi Arabia8
Syrian Arab Republic11
United Arab Emirates4
Total North America104
Canada27
United States of America77
Total Oceania44
Australia19
Canton and Enderbury Island1
Fiji6
French Southern Territories1
Kiribati1
New Zealand13
Papua New Guinea2
Samoa1
Total Other13
Total West Indies2,082
Aruba1
Bahamas3
Barbados31
Bermuda3
Dominica8
Dominican Republic9
Grenada29
Guyana42
Haiti2
Jamaica1,774
Montserrat6
Netherlands Antilles17
St Christopher and Nevis1
St Kitts and Nevis5
St Lucia23
St Vincent and The Grenadines10
Trinidad and Tobago119


(18) Figures include persons held in immigration removal centres at Dover, Haslar and Lindholme.



 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 928W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are serving a custodial sentence of (a) less than 12 months and (b) over 12 months, broken down by nationality and gender. [9012]

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the following table.
Population of prison establishments(19) under an immediate custodial sentence, by nationality, sentence length and sex England and Wales, 31 May 2005

Males
Females
Less than 12 months12 months or moreTotal malesLess than 12 months12 months or moreTotal femalesTotal
Total7,43751,27158,7086752,7953,47062,178
Total UK nationals6,77545,88652,6616002,2052,80655,467
Total Foreign nationals6355,2515,886695696386,524
Total Unrecorded2713416162127188
Total Africa1981,1121,310361451821,491
Algeria25598484
Angola6313737
Benin777
Botswana111
Burundi1122
Cameroon, United Republic246117
Central African Republic777
Congo, Democratic Republic of the4242828
Congo, Republic of436402242
Co(r)te d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)2151717
Djibouti111
Egypt47113314
Equatorial Guinea222
Ethiopia611174420
French Guiana1233
Gabon111
Gambia212141115
Ghana1110411411920135
Guinea1455
Kenya334373340
Liberia49132215
Libya1111212
Malawi661128
Mali111
Mauritania1122
Mauritius178119
Morocco122231124
Mozambique1122
Namibia222
Niger1122
Nigeria313053371883101438
Rwanda145116
Sao Tome and Principe111
Senegal1344
Seychelles111
Sierra Leone728351136
Somalia34124158213161
South Africa2838532023107
Sudan312151116
Swaziland111
Tanzania2799
Togo77229
Tunisia281010
Uganda1038481149
Zambia2111313
Zimbabwe22567834785
Total Asia105659763102333796
Bangladesh1573892291
China197796325100
Hong Kong1141515
India14111124347131
Indonesia444
Japan111
Korea Republic of (Sth)33225
Malaysia39121113
Mongolia222
Myanmar (Burma)1122
Nepal222
Pakistan29241270278279
Philippines37101111
Sri Lanka1671871188
Surinam333
Thailand22113
Vietnam2394123546
Total Central or South America1319120352530234
Argentina1344
Belize111
Bolivia441126
Brazil4151927928
Chile999
Columbia59095257102
Costa Rica33114
Ecuador2244
Mexico888
Panama111
Paraguay111
Peru333
Uruguay111
Venezuela14950111161
Total Europe2171,5101,727161591751,902
Albania12516363
Armenia333
Austria33336
Azerbijan111
Belgium123247731
Bosnia-Hercegovina333
Bulgaria33114
Croatia22113
Cyprus5485252
Czech Republic291111
Denmark222
Estonia1122
Finland333
France1578931414107
Georgia333
Germany869763172096
Gibraltar1344
Greece115162218
Hungary111111
Irish Republic6246152372835558
Italy560651121378
Kazakhstan111
Kyrgystan222
Latvia517221123
Lithuania7414815654
Macedonia1677
Malta33114
Moldova2131515
Netherlands388912525116
Norway333
Poland1635512253
Portugal24971211111132
Romania566716677
Russia15375233658
Serbia and Montenegro649551156
Slovakia33114
Spain55559131373
Sweden66339
Switzerland66228
Turkey17129146112148
Total Middle East5823729422296
Afghanistan11324343
Iran14486363
Iraq30110140140
Israel121212
Jordan555
Kuwait222
Lebanon178119
Republic of Yemen999
Saudi Arabia444
Syrian Arab Republic1566
United Arab Emirates123114
Total North America46265171782
Canada115164420
United States of America34649131362
Total Oceania628341135
Australia5111616
Fiji555
French Southern Territories111
Kiribati111
New Zealand1891110
Papua New Guinea111
Samoa111
Total Other888
Total West Indies351,4451,48111971981,678
Aruba111
Bahamas11223
Barbados24242226
Bermuda111
Dominica555
Dominican Republic33225
Grenada118194423
Guyana124255530
Haiti222
Jamaica281,2601,28811401411,429
Montserrat444
Netherlands Antilles12122214
St. Kitts and Nevis33114
St. Lucia116172219
St. Vincent and The Grenadines2791110
Trinidad and Tobago363663535101


(19) Figures include persons held in immigration removal centres at Dover, Haslar and Lindholme



 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 931W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have been recruited by the Prison Service since the managed recruitment ban was lifted. [9059]

Fiona Mactaggart: Between 1 April 2005, when the managed recruitment freeze was lifted, and 20 June, 1,107 staff have been recruited to Her Majesty's Prison Service.

The managed recruitment freeze did not affect contracted prisons and therefore they have been excluded from the figures.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies for staff in prison establishments there were on the last date for which figures are available; how many staff were working out their notice period; how many staff in
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 932W
 
prison establishments are expected to retire before 1 April; and how many staff he estimates are required to fill all posts at prison establishments. [9062]

Fiona Mactaggart: At 31 May 2005 23,869 prison officer grade staff were employed at public sector prison establishments (excluding Headquarters) against an operational staffing requirement of 24,530 at 30 June. In addition, the equivalent of 412 officers were available for operational duty through the contract supplementary hours scheme. Overall, operational staffing availability was therefore just one per cent below the operational staffing requirement. The Director General considers this to be within an acceptable operating margin.

For all grades of staff working in prison establishments (excluding headquarters) there was a shortfall between staff in post and operational staffing requirement of 1,459 (3.1 per cent.) at 30 June 2005. This
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 933W
 
figure represents a snapshot and does not take into account new staff still in the recruitment process. A total of 46,470 staff (covering all grades) would need to be employed in public sector prison establishments to fill all identified posts at 30 June 2005.

Information on the number of staff working out their notice is not recorded centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. Between 1 June 2005 and 1 April 2006, 555 staff are expected to retire. Information on required staffing levels within prisons managed by the private sector is not collected centrally in this form and is therefore not available.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison cells were available for use at each prison establishment on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many prisoners could be housed in those cells. [9065]

Fiona Mactaggart: The total number of prison cells and other accommodation is not recorded centrally. The standard unit of prison accommodation is the prison place, which may be located in cells, cubicles, dormitories, rooms or wards. When totalled it represents the uncrowded capacity of a prison, or certified normal accommodation (CNA).

The total number of prisoners that an establishment can hold in its accommodation is the prison's operational capacity. It is determined by Prison Service area managers on the basis of operational judgment and experience, taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime.

Data on prison capacity in England and Wales, as at 24 June 2005 (the last date for which figures are available), is set out in table 1.
Table 1

PrisonCNAOp Cap
Acklington882882
Albany526526
Altcourse614903
Ashfield400360
Ashwell535545
Askham Grange129131
Aylesbury432438
Bedford324494
Belmarsh799917
Birmingham1,1211,402
Blakenhurst8211,060
Blantyre House122122
Blundeston420464
Brinsford477493
Bristol426606
Brixton606798
Brockhill145148
Bronzefield451451
Buckley Hall350385
Bullingdon759963
Bullwood Hall167171
Camp Hill513585
Canterbury196314
Cardiff525754
Castington400410
Channings Wood634667
Chelmsford437575
Coldingley370390
Cookham Wood120168
Dartmoor598625
Deerbolt513518
Doncaster7711,120
Dorchester147260
Dovegate800800
Dover(20)314314
Downview251251
Drake Hall315315
Durham496725
East Sutton Park94100
Eastwood Park310346
Edmunds Hill160160
Elmley753985
Erlestoke426426
Everthorpe423469
Exeter316533
Featherstone599615
Feltham761761
Ford541541
Forest Bank8001,040
Foston Hall223223
Frankland718734
Full Sutton596608
Garth633667
Gartree435440
Glen Parva668808
Gloucester214313
Grendon241235
Guys Marsh519570
Haslar*160160
Haverigg536546
Hewell Grange176176
Highdown627736
Highpoint776800
Hindley455455
Hollesley Bay330330
Holloway483485
Holme House857994
Hull8121,071
Huntercombe360368
Kingston194196
Kirkham588590
Kirklevington223223
Lancaster159244
Lancaster Farms480527
Latchmere House207207
Leeds8061,254
Leicester191355
Lewes458545
Leyhill508508
Lincoln307490
Lindholme*802849
Littlehey664706
Liverpool1,1631 ,438
Long Lartin444444
Low Newton343396
Lowdham Grange504500
Maidstone548548
Manchester9541,269
Moorland740779
Moorland Open260260
Morton Hall391392
Mount704708
New Hall367426
North Sea Camp306306
Northallerton127209
Norwich591823
Nottingham385510
Onley520520
Pare8391,036
Parkhurst459507
Pentonville8681,189
Peterborough525525
Portland382398
Prescoed160170
Preston331620
Ranby9121,038
Reading190297
Risley1,0381,073
Rochester392392
Rye Hill600600
Send218218
Shepton Mallet160186
Shrewsbury168300
Spring Hill314314
Stafford680680
Standford Hill464464
Stocken595622
Stoke Heath574690
Styal405455
Sudbury563571
Swaleside756778
Swansea248425
Swinfen Hall590590
Thorn Cross316316
Usk150250
Verne552587
Wakefield561565
Wandsworth9661,416
Warren Hill222222
Wayland657709
Wealstun842892
Weare398398
Wellingborough548548
Werrington146148
Wetherby360360
Whatton319360
Whitemoor464458
Winchester476695
Wolds330350
Woodhill650762
Wormwood Scrubs1,1671,239
Wymott9971,046


(20) Dover and Haslar in their entirety and 112 of Lindholme's places are designated immigration removal centres (IRCs), which are managed by the Prison Service on behalf of immigration and nationality directorate



 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 935W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were being held in prison on 24 June; how many prisoners were released on early release on 24 June; how many prisoners were eligible for early release on 24 June; and how many prisoners were released on 24 June. [9067]

Fiona Mactaggart: On 24 June 2005 there were 71,578 males and 4,501 females held in prison establishments in England and Wales, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system. There were an estimated 154 prisoners with a sentence length of three months to less than four years whose home detention curfew (HDC) eligibility date was 24 June 2005. On that date, 46 prisoners were released on HDC. Information on the number of prisoners discharged by other means on 24 June 2005 is
 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 936W
 
not yet available. The number of prisoners with a sentence length of three months to less than four years will include some prisoners who are not eligible for HDC because of the nature of their current or previous offences. The figures also exclude a small number of prisoners in the population who are on remand at the end of the previous month, but are subsequently sentenced to a custodial sentence suitable for HDC and whose HDC eligibility date falls on that date. This occurs when they have spent a significant time on remand.

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on television licences for prisons, broken down by establishment, in 2004. [10166]

Fiona Mactaggart: Prisoners have access to television in-cell as part of the Incentive and Earned Privileges Scheme. Prisoners rent these sets for a weekly charge of £1. The revenue generated is used to pay for the televisions and their replacements. Televisions in-cell are covered by Crown exemption and do not require a television licence. A small number of televisions in communal areas of a prison are licensed. The amount of money spent by each establishment on television licences for these sets is not centrally recorded.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners aged (a) under 21 years, (b) 21 to 40 years, (c) 40 to 60 years and (d) over 60 years died of natural causes in each year since 2000, broken down by prison. [10184]

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested with respect to apparent natural causes deaths in prisons in England and Wales is provided in the following table. Prisons, together with their local healthcare partners, assess the healthcare needs of their populations, whatever their age, and develop services to meet those needs. The National Offender Management Service, Prison Service and Department of Health are working closely together to improve health care provision for prisoners. Key achievements include developing better mental health provision, including NHS-funded in-reach teams; supporting improvements in primary care services; developing the prison health workforce and improving the prison health estate. NHS primary care trusts started to assume responsibility for the commissioning of prison health services in public prisons in England in April 2004. This process is expected to be completed by April 2006. All deaths in custody are subject to a coroner's inquest and (since April 2004) an investigation by the prisons and probation ombudsman (PPO). The PPO's recommendations are considered carefully and the reports are analysed to identify common trends, issues that need to be addressed and good practice examples that can be disseminated.
Number of apparent natural causes deaths
EstablishmentAge Group200020012002200320042005(21)
Acklington40–592111
60+1222
Albany21–391
40–592111
60+13211
Altcourse21–391
40–59211
60+1
Ashwell40–591
60+1
Bedford21–391
Belmarsh21–39111
40–591
60+1121
Birmingham21–3921
40–5911
Blakenhurst21–391
40–5921
60+1
Blundeston40–591
60+1
Bristol21–3912
40–592
60+1
Brixton60+3
Brockhill21–391
Bullingdon21–391
60+121
Camp Hill60+1
Canterbury40–591
Cardiff40–591
Channings Wood21–391
60+1
Chelmsford40–5911
Coldingley40–5921
Dartmoor40–5911
60+11
<211
Doncaster21–391
40–59111
21–391
Dovegate40–5911
60+1
Downview21–391
Drake Hall21–391
40–591
Durham21–3911
40–591
60+2111
East Sutton Park40–591
Eastwood Park21–391
40–5912
Edmunds Hill60+1
Elmley21–391
40–591
60+21
Everthorpe40–592
Exeter21–391
40–591
60+1
Ford60+1
Forest Bank40–591
Foston Hall60+1
Frankland40–593111
60+333121
Full Sutton21–3911
40–591
60+2
Garth40–59111
60+1
Gartree40–5911
Gloucester21–391
40–5911
60+1
Grendon40–591
Guys Marsh21–391
40–591
Haslar21–391
Haverigg40–591
Hewell Grange40–591
High Down21–3911
Hollesley Bay40–591
60+1
Holloway21–3911
Holme House21–391
40–591
60+21
Hull21–3911
40–5912
60+12
Kingston40–591121
60+13
Kirkham21–391
40–592
Latchmere House40–591
Leeds40–59111
60+1
Leicester40–5911
60+1
Lewes60+11
Leyhill40–59111
60+11
Lincoln60+11
Lindholme21–3911
Littlehey21–391
40–5911
60+4123
Liverpool21–3911
40–5911
60+121
Low Newton21–391
Lowdham Grange40–591
Maidstone40–5911
60+22
Manchester21–3921
40–5912
60+111
Moorland21–391
Mount, The21–391
40–591
New Hall21–391
North Sea Camp40–591
Norwich21–3911
40–59111
Nottingham21–391
40–591
60+12
Pare21–3911
40–59111
60+31
Parkhurst21–391
40–5911
60+21
Prison escort and custody services, area 140–591
Pentonville21–39211
40–59111
60+3
Preston21–391
40–592
60+11
Ranby40–591
60+1
Risley40–591
60+41
Rye Hill40–59141
60+31
Shepton Mallet40–591
60+1
Shrewsbury60+1
Stafford60+21
Standford Hill40–591
Stocken40–591
60+2
Swaleside21–3911
40–592111
60+11
Swansea21–391
40–591
Usk/Prescoed40–591
60+11
Verne, The40–5911
Wakefield21–39121
40–5912121
60+2121
Wandsworth21–3912
40–591111
60+2
Wayland40–5911
Wealstun40–591
Weare40–591
Whatton40–591
60+1
Whitemoor40–59121
60+1
Winchester40–59112
60+111
Wolds40–591
60+1
21–3911
Woodhill40–59111
60+12
Wormwood Scrubs21–391
40–59111
21–391
Wymott40–591111
60+412162
Total6267688510039


(21) To 4 July.



 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 943W
 

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) remand and (b) sentenced prisoners aged over 60 years are held in prisons in England and Wales, broken down by (i) prison, (ii) sex and (iii) ethnicity. [10185]

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested, as recorded on the Prison Service IT system, is provided in the tables. The breakdown by establishment and sex is for 31 May 2005. Information on the population by ethnic group is, at present, only available for 28 February 2003.
Population of prisoners aged over 60 years in prison establishments, by sex, type of custody(22) and establishment—England and Wales, 31 May 2005

Males
Females
RemandImmediate custodial sentenceRemandImmediate custodial sentence
Total1241,404522
Acklington55
Albany77
Altcourse112
Ashwell8
Bedford4
Belmarsh87
Birmingham711
Blakenhurst410
Blantyre House3
Blundeston12
Bristol310
Brixton79
Brockhill1
Bronzefield13
Bullingdon618
Bullwood Hall1
Camp Hill2
Canterbury1
Cardiff37
Channings Wood37
Chelmsford36
Coldingly5
Cookham Wood3
Dartmoor22
Doncaster110
Dorchester12
Dovegate13
Downview3
Durham5
Eastwood Park3
Elmley620
Erlestoke4
Exeter510
Featherstone5
Ford11
Forest Bank11
Foston Hall12
Frankland44
Full Sutton44
Garth11
Gartree13
Gloucester2
Grendon (Spring Hill)9
Guys Marsh2
Haverigg5
Hewell Grange2
Highdown56
Highpoint South5
Hollesley Bay (Warren Hill)7
Holloway21
Holme House17
Hull343
Kingston (Portsmouth)21
Kirkham8
Kirklevington5
Latchmere House7
Leeds29
Leicester24
Lewes316
Leyhill22
Lincoln310
Lindholme2
Littlehey64
Liverpool315
Long Lartin7
Lowdham Grange5
Maidstone26
Manchester519
Moorland Open2
Mount9
New Hall1
North Sea Camp9
Norwich225
Nottingham53
Onley1
Parc114
Parkhurst24
Pentonville64
Peterborough12
Preston3
Ranby2
Risley38
Rye Hill23
Send2
Shepton Mallet13
Shrewsbury24
Stafford31
Standford Hill115
Stocken3
Styal3
Sudbury16
Swaleside21
Swansea22
Usk (Prescoed)32
Verne10
Wakefield51
Wandsworth645
Wayland22
Wealstun8
Weare3
Wellingborough4
Whatton48
Whitemoor8
Winchester610
Wolds2
Woodhill49
Wormwood Scrubs410
Wymott53


(22) Not including fine defaulters and non-criminals



 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 945W
 

 
12 Jul 2005 : Column 946W
 


Next Section Index Home Page