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20 Mar 2006 : Column 120W—continued
Leave to Remain
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measure of (a) length of academic year and (b) hours per academic year the Department used in calculating the 15 hours minimum time that a student must spend in organised study per week when applying for leave to remain as a student. [58895]
Mr. McNulty: The rationale behind the minimum of 15 hours organised day time study is to help ensure that a migrant's primary purpose in being in the UK is for study as a full-time student. It has been in the Immigration Rules since 1983 and is also consistent with DfES definitions of full-time study.
People Trafficking
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number of children who are trafficked into the United Kingdom illegally in a year; and if he will make a statement. [40654]
Paul Goggins:
There have been a number of recent investigations into the extent of the problem of trafficking in children, including reports by the
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Metropolitan police service, the Immigration and Nationality Directorate of the Home Office and from interested non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Home Office officials believe that, due to the highly covert nature of this criminal activity, we do not as yet fully understand the scale of trafficking into or within the UK. Consequently no reliable estimates of the numbers of trafficked children exist.
On 5 January the Home Office launched a public consultation document, Tackling Human Trafficking— Consultation on Proposals for a UK Action Plan". The consultation aims to increase our knowledge and understanding of all forms of trafficking, including the trafficking of children. Home Office officials are also currently considering further research proposals and working closely with other Departments and NGOs on ways in which identification, assessment and protection of child trafficking victims might be improved. This will enable more reliable data and estimates of numbers to be collated.
Prisons
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of people with a learning disability in prisons; and if he will make a statement. [58210]
Fiona Mactaggart: This information is not currently collated centrally by the Department for Education and Skills, the Home Office or the Prison Service. However, the Prison Service has recently amended its Local Inmate Database System to record prisoner disability, including separate indicators for dyslexia, mental health, learning difficulties and physical or sensory impairments. This data has yet to be gathered on the existing prison population.
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Prison Service spent on (a) television sets and (b) Sony playstations for the use of prisoners in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available. [59138]
Fiona Mactaggart: Information is only available for the last two financial years. The expenditure for television sets also includes the amount spent on televisions used outside of cells. In-cell televisions are paid for out of rental money collected from prisoners and not from Prison Service funds. The expenditure only takes account of money spent with the current contractor. Figures for expenditure outside the central contract are not available.
Mr. Bellingham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the
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changes in skills required for the staff working in prison management over the last 20 years; and if he will make a statement. [58648]
Fiona Mactaggart: There is sustained investment in management and leadership skills from first line manager upwards flowing from the Professionalising the Prison Service project and forming the key foundation for work on leadership planning and management.
The Prison Service strategy for leadership and management development is designed to enhance the quality, diversity and effectiveness of senior operational managers in order that they meet their key performance targets. Development is evidence based, tailored to individual need and is aligned with the promotion process.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list prisons which have a mother and baby unit; what the capacity of each is; and if he will make a statement. [59196]
Fiona Mactaggart: There are currently seven mother and baby units, which are listed in the following table. Each may accommodate a set of twins.
| Establishment | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Askham Grange | 10 |
| Bronzefield | 12 |
| Eastwood Park | 12 |
| Holloway | 13 |
| New Hall | 9 |
| Peterborough | 12 |
| Styal | 11 |
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many incidents of self harm there have been at each prison in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [57770]
(2) how many inmates (a) committed suicide and (b) attempted suicide but were resuscitated at each prison in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [57772]
Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested will be place in the Libraries of the House.
Same Sex Civil Partnerships
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the extent to which same sex civil partnerships undertaken abroad are recognised in the United Kingdom. [57119]
Ms Harman: I have been asked to reply.
The Government have carried out research to inform a list of specified countries whose same sex relationships will be recognised as civil partnerships in the United Kingdom. This list is in Schedule 20 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.
The overseas relationships listed are those that meet certain criteria demonstrating that they are similar in nature to a civil partnership. Overseas relationships
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which do not feature on the list can also be recognised provided that they meet certain 'general conditions' which are specified in the Act.
Silverland, Chertsey (Costs)
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost, and average monthly cost, to date has been to the Government for (a) building works and (b) security provisions at Silverlands, Chertsey. [54468]
Mr. Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
From October 1999 to the date of sale the Government spent £3,175,000 (average £46,691 per month) on building and maintenance works and £1,770,000 (average £26,029 per month) on site security relating to Silverlands.
The property was sold by the Department on 23 May 2005.
Stolen Property (Recovery Costs)
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was raised in each of the last three years by police forces charging victims of car theft for the return of their vehicles. [57978]
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Paul Goggins: There is no distinct charge on the victims of car theft for the return of their vehicles. The police have powers to order the removal of any vehicle that is dangerously, obstructively or illegal parked, broken down or abandoned, including vehicles abandoned after being stolen. Before owners can regain any vehicle so removed, they are required by law to pay charges prescribed by the Secretary of State to meet the costs. The charges are currently £105 for the removal and £12 for each storage period of 24 hours. Information on the total value of charges levied and the circumstances in which they were levied is not collected centrally.
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