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20 Oct 2005 : Column 1120W—continued
Magic Mushrooms
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many submissions were received (a) in favour and (b) against the reclassification of magic mushrooms prior to the Drugs Act 2005 being passed. [16481]
Paul Goggins: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which is a recognised expert body on drug misuse matters, made clear its support for the measure. The Home Office received no submissions in favour of the clarification of the law in respect of magic mushrooms prior to the Drugs Act 2005 being granted Royal Assent on seven April and four submissions against.
National Offender Management Service
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications he has received for the post of the head of the National Offender Management Service; and when he expects to make an appointment. [19223]
Fiona Mactaggart
[holding answer 18 October 2005]: There were 10 applications for the post of Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service. Interviews have been held, and an announcement will be made shortly.
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People Trafficking
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to combat the trafficking of women into the UK to work as prostitutes. [19381]
Paul Goggins: The Government are committed to tackling human trafficking. It has a comprehensive strategy encompassing legislation, law enforcement, prevention, international cooperation and support for victims. The Government provides £20 million of funding annually to Reflex, the multi-agency task force which coordinates the law enforcement response to organised immigration crime, including people trafficking.
In the year to March 2005 Reflex carried out 343 operations which led to 149 disruptions, 1,456 arrests and the seizure of over £5.5 million in criminal assets. The UK has made people trafficking a priority during its EU presidency. It is working closely with the Commission in developing an EU plan on preventing and combating trafficking in persons. In March 2003 a small scale Home Office-funded pilot scheme was launched in partnership with Eaves Housing for Women to provide safe accommodation and one-to-one support for adult women who have been trafficked into the UK to work as prostitutes. The Scheme has recently been formally evaluated and overall findings were positive on the model and quality of support provided. A copy of the summary findings from the evaluation can be obtained from:
The full evaluation report is currently being considered and decisions about the future scope and nature of support will be made in light of its findings.
Prisons
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of Prison Service staff have been (a) reinstated to posts within the service and (b) compensated but not reinstated following successful industrial tribunal appeals where the appellant has been proved to have been dismissed unfairly since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [16367]
Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantity of drugs have been seized in each London prison from (a) prisoners, (b) visitors, (c) prison governors, (d) officers and (e) other staff in each month of 2005; what quantity of drugs has been found in each London prison thrown over the wall in each month; and if he will make a statement. [16371]
Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is contained in the following table. The information on quantity is not collected routinely and the figures in the table indicate the number of occasions on which drugs were found. In addition, at Holloway prison drugs have been intercepted in mail being sent in to prisoners on six occasions in 2005. In Belmarsh there were six unattributable finds in the prison, once in incoming mail and on five occasions at various locations within the prison.
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Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison cells in England and Wales have capacity for (a) one inmate, (b) two inmates and (c) three or more inmates. [17789]
Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
All prisoner accommodation is certified by Prison Service area managers (as required by s.14 of the Prison Act 1952). Cell capacity may only be increased (for example, when single cells are used to house two prisoners), when the area manager has assessed them to be of adequate size and condition for doing so.
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners have been in overcrowded cells in each of the last five years for which records are available. [17790]
Fiona Mactaggart: The following table shows the percentage of prisoners held in crowded accommodation for the last five full financial years. The data for 2005–06 are the average for this financial year to 30 September 2005.
| Percentage of prisoners held in crowded conditions | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 17.5 |
| 2001–02 | 18.6 |
| 2002–03 | 23.4 |
| 2003–04 | 24.0 |
| 2004–05 | 24.1 |
| 2005–06 | 23.6 |
School of Economic Science
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to legislate against the activity of religious cults, with particular reference to the School of Economic Science. [19843]
Paul Goggins: The Secretary of State for the Home Department has no plans to legislate against the activity of religious cults.
Secure Training Centres
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish the full report on the investigation into Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. [17272]
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Fiona Mactaggart: There is no plan to publish the Serious Incident Review report on the death of Gareth Myatt at Rainsbrook while a criminal investigation is in progress. When that investigation has concluded, it will be for the coroner to decide whether the report can be published in advance of the inquest.
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff are employed in each of the four secure training centres. [17273]
Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is given in the following table.
| STC | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| Medway | 239 | 17 |
| Rainsbrook | 253 | 15 |
| Hassockfield | 137 | 11 |
| Oakhill | 270 | 21 |
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