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Drug Rehabilitation
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements in (i) England and Wales and (ii) Hertfordshire were effected by non-governmental bodies in the last year for which figures are available. [10865]
Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not available centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost. The treatment and testing components of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) and drug rehabilitation requirements (DRRs) in England are commissioned by local Drug Action Teams (DATs). Probation areas are responsible for the supervision and enforcement of DTTOs/DRRs and the delivery of some interventions. Welsh probation areas are funded to meet full DTTO/DRR costs.
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department allocated for the implementation of (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements in the last year for which figures are available. [10866]
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Fiona Mactaggart: £76 million was made available in 2004–05 to deliver 13,000 drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs). £88 million has been allocated in 2005–06 for the delivery of 16,000 DTTOs/drug rehabilitation requirements (DRRs) of the new community order, which will gradually replace DTTOs from April 2005.
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was allocated per capita for offenders referred to a non-governmental voluntary body for the provision of (a) drug treatment testing orders and (b) drug rehabilitation requirements; what estimate he has made of the cost per capita for such offenders in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [11136]
Fiona Mactaggart: A proportion of Drug Treatment Testing Orders (DTTO)/Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) funding is not specifically allocated to cover the costs of offenders referred to non-governmental voluntary bodies. Funding for DTTO/DRR treatment and testing in England is allocated via the Pooled Treatment Budget to local Drug Action Teams (DATs) who decide what treatment and testing to commission in their locality and from what sources. Different arrangements exist in Wales where areas have responsibility for commissioning DTTO/DRR treatment and testing provision locally from their probation funding allocations. Information about the cost per capita of offenders on DTTOs/DRRs referred to non-governmental voluntary bodies is not available centrally and could be collected only at a disproportionate cost.
Early Release Scheme
Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will abolish the Early Release Scheme. [1365]
Fiona Mactaggart: There are three early release schemes: the Home Detention Curfew Scheme, the Early Removal Scheme for foreign national prisoners subject to deportation and parole for prisoners serving a determinate sentence of four years and over. There are no plans to abolish the Home Detention Curfew Scheme or the Early Removal Scheme. Under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, offenders are sentenced according to the risk they present to the public. Sexual and violent offenders who present a significant risk will receive an extended sentence, under which the entire custodial period set by the court may be spent in prison if the Parole Board believes it is necessary: or an inter-determinate sentence, under which the offender must spend a minimum period of time in prison, and can be kept in prison indefinitely if the Parole Board believes it is necessary. Other offenders, who do not present this risk, are released on licence halfway through the sentence. Offenders must now remain on licence until the end of sentence, under reforms brought in under the Act.
House Building (East Midlands)
Mr. Hollobone:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when future projections of house building numbers in Northamptonshire contained in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional
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Spatial Strategy will be taken into account in the formula grant funding calculation for the county's police force. [11193]
Hazel Blears: House building numbers are not used in the police funding formula. Estimates of population are used and are updated annually. The police funding formula will reflect changes in resident population in each police authority. The Government recently consulted on the use of population projections in three-year settlements; the Government's proposals following this consultation will be announced shortly.
Juvenile Offenders
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many secure unit places for juvenile offenders there are in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [8080]
Fiona Mactaggart: The Youth Justice Board is responsible for commissioning and purchasing places in the juvenile secure estate. It currently contracts with local authorities for the use for 235 places in secure children's homes in England and Wales.
Limitation Acts
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to amend the provisions of the Limitation Acts to permit claims from those who have suffered from historic physical and sexual abuse. [7418]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
Under the current law the provisions governing claims for trespass against the person mean that a claim for child abuse must be brought within six years of the date on which the cause of action arose, although this period will not start to run until the child reaches the age of majority. Under the proposals in the Law Commission's 2001 report Limitation of Actions", a claim in relation to child abuse would have to be brought within a period of three years from the date on which a claimant knew (or ought reasonably to have known) the facts giving rise to the cause of action, the identity of the defendant, and that any injury, loss or damage was significant. The court would have a discretion to disapply this limitation period if it considered that it would be unjust not to allow the claim to proceed. In July 2002, the Government announced their acceptance in principle of the Law Commission's recommendations subject to further consideration of certain aspects. Legislation will be introduced to implement those recommendations which are accepted when an opportunity arises.
Mother and Baby Units (Prisons)
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many places have been available in mother and baby units in prisons in England and Wales in each year since 1997; [7746]
(2) how many pregnant female offenders have applied for their children to remain with them in prison after birth in each year since 1997; [7747]
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(3) how many babies have been born to women inprison for non-violent offences in each year since 1997; [7748]
(4) how many babies have been born to women in prison in each year since 1997; and how many remained with their mothers in prison in each year. [7749]
Fiona Mactaggart: The number of places available in prison mother and baby units in England and Wales in each year since 1997 is as follows:
The remainder of the data requested is currently neither routinely, or centrally available. However, the numbers of babies born to women in prison and applications for a place on a mother and baby unit is being collated nationally from 1 April 2005, on a quarterly retrospective basis. Data obtained in 2005 shows that, in 2004, 114 women gave birth while serving a prison sentence. All pregnant prisoners who give birth to a baby whilst serving a prison sentence do so in a local hospital.
Murder Rate
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were (a) charged with and (b) convicted of (i) murder and (ii) manslaughter in England and Wales in each year since 1975. [10508]
Fiona Mactaggart: Statistics on persons charged are not centrally collected.
The available information from the Home Office Court Proceedings database is contained in the table. Statistics on court proceedings for 2004 will be published in the autumn.
(16) These data are on the principal offence basis.
(17) Covers: manslaughter, infanticide, child destruction, causing death by dangerous driving, diminished responsibility and causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.
(18) Found guilty figures may include those prosecutions for murder that were reduced to manslaughter.
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