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28 Oct 2005 : Column 652W—continued
Police Transport
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) cars, (b) vans, (c) motor cycles and (d) bicycles are operated in each police division in Northern Ireland. [21632]
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Mr. Woodward: The total number of vehicles allocated to District Command Units is listed as follows. For operational security reasons it is not possible to disclose the types and number of motor vehicles within each DCU. A breakdown of bicycles by DCU has been provided on a separate table.
| Type of vehicle | Total number |
|---|---|
| Cars | 712 |
| Landrovers | 70 |
| Vans | 81 |
| Motorcycles | 56 |
| Bicycles | 69 |
Prisoner Releases
Mr. Peter Robinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners were released on temporary licence in the last year for which figures are available; on how many occasions; for what purpose;
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and on how many of these occasions the prisoner (a) failed to return and (b) otherwise breached the conditions of the licence. [21240]
Mr. Woodward: 3127 periods of temporary release were granted from prisons, including the young offenders centre, during the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005. Of this number of releases, four prisoners are currently unlawfully at large. The level of abuse of Prison Service schemes is small and to restrict temporary release would have a serious detrimental effect on the resettlement of prisoners, the great majority of whom abide by the temporary release conditions.
The full information requested is not available due to disproportionate cost, including those cases where a prisoner has been granted multiple releases and the number of prisoners who breach the conditions of their temporary releases other than those unlawfully at large.
Information in respect of those who were temporarily or still unlawfully at large is provided in the table.
(25)Unaccompanied
(26)Accompanied
(27)Of the 46 prisoners posted unlawfully at large, only four currently remain at large.
Note:
The table excludes prisoners on remand and those released on bail as these are determined by the courts.
Prisons
Dr. McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of prison sentences in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003 and (d) 2004 were for (i) six months or less and (ii) three months or less. [21641]
Mr. Hanson: The following table shows the numbers of persons sentenced to immediate custody for six months or less, and for three months or less, and also presents these figures as a proportion of all persons sentenced to immediate custody in each of the calendar years 2001 to 2003.
Figures relating to 2004 are not currently available.
(28)Immediate custody includes prison, young offenders' centre and custody probation. Persons sentenced to juvenile justice centre orders are excluded from the analysis.
Note:
Numbers for persons sentenced for three months or less are also included within 'six month or less' category. Percentages are therefore cumulative.
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Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions people have been caught smuggling narcotics into prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how many people have been charged. [21245]
Mr. Woodward: Detailed recording of monthly drugs monitoring statistics was introduced in March 2003 with information now being recorded on where drugs are found within each prison establishment. Since then records show that a total of 445 visitors have been caught attempting to smuggle unauthorised drugs into prison establishments.
| Number of people found in possession of unauthorised drugs | |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 157 |
| 2004–05 | 236 |
| 2005-to date | 52 |
Statistics showing the number of visitors charged with drug trafficking into prison establishments are not separately recorded.
Figures prior to these dates are not available.
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were caught with narcotics while serving prison sentences in each of the last 10 years. [21247]
Mr. Woodward: Detailed recording of monthly drugs monitoring statistics was introduced in March 2003 including information on where drugs are found within each prison establishment. Since then records show that a total of 693 prisoners were found to be in possession of unauthorised drugs and pharmaceuticals, including those which were not prescribed for that individual.
| Number of prisoners found in possession of unauthorised drugs | |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 296 |
| 2004–05 | 273 |
| 2005 to date | 124 |
Figures prior to these dates are not available.
Private Members' Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what occasions since 1997 Ministers from his Department have (a) authorised parliamentary counsel to assist in preparing amendments to private Members' Bills on behalf of other private Members and (b) authorised officials to instruct parliamentary counsel to prepare amendments which were subsequently passed to private Members. [20132]
Mr. Hain: The information requested is not collected.
Pupil-teacher Ratio
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the pupil/teacher ratio was in Northern Ireland's (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) grammar schools in each of the past four years. [22332]
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Angela E. Smith: The information requested is as follows:
(29)Since 2003–04 the teacher figures used to calculate pupil: teacher ratios for primary and secondary schools have been compiled on a new improved basis, which involves verification with schools. Data since 2003–04 are not comparable with data prior to 2003–04.
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