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28 Mar 2006 : Column 907W—continued

Data-mining

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2006, Official Report, column 114W, on data-mining, what checks and balances have been introduced since the practice of data-mining began. [61257]

Andy Burnham: As part of their role in protecting the confidentiality of statistical data within their care the Office for National Statistics has issued guidelines on the access of statistical data. Where statistical data includes data specifically collected through censuses and surveys for statistical purposes, as well as data derived from administrative systems. Details of the latest version of these guidelines can be found in the National Statistics code of practice: Protocol on Data Access and Confidentiality which can be accessed at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/default.asp A statement that sets out how my Department fits into the code of practice can be found on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/statsprog1.html In addition, in November 2005 the Council for Science and Technology published their report—'Better use of personal information—opportunities and risks of wider data sharing.'

This report looks at practical ways we can better share personal data and the sorts of constraints and controls that need to be in place to retain a proper balance between achieving the benefits of promoting greater access and protecting the individual citizen. Paul Wiles, the Home Office chief scientific advisor, is working closely with colleagues across Government to develop a detailed action plan in response to this report on how the reports recommendations can be appropriately reflected in any future work done in this area.

Driving Offences

Mr. Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase the penalty for driving whilst disqualified. [60850]

 
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Paul Goggins: The Government have no plans to increase the penalty for driving while disqualified. However, we propose to increase penalties for illegal drivers (including disqualified drivers) who cause fatal accidents and we have included a new offence of causing death while driving disqualified, unlicensed or uninsured in the Road Safety Bill currently before Parliament.

Drug Treatment Programmes

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned on the levels of participation in the Government drug treatment programmes in the 10 most deprived constituencies in England and Wales. [47692]

Caroline Flint: I have been asked to reply.

The Department has commissioned no studies on the levels of participation in drug treatment programmes in the 10 most deprived constituencies in England and Wales.

For the latest numbers in treatment in the most deprived local authorities, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 9 March 2006, Official Report, columns 1664–65W.

Khalid Rashid

Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any employee of the Government was (a) involved in and (b) present at therendition of Khalid Rashid following his arrest on 31 October 2005 in Estcourt, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa; and if he will make a statement. [57427]

Hazel Blears: It is the United Kingdom Government's understanding that Khalid Rashid was removed from South Africa on immigration grounds. This is a matter for the South African authorities.

Operation Trident

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2006, Official Report, column 957W, on Operation Trident, what the figures were for each London borough not referred to in the answer. [61609]

Hazel Blears: The requested data are not collected centrally. Crime statistics for each London borough, including figures for gun-enabled crime, are published by the metropolitan police service and are available on their website at http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/.

Police

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 has been used in each police force area since its introduction. [61292]

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.
 
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Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of members of the police officers' pension scheme joined the scheme (a) before the age of (i) 20, (ii) 25, (iii) 30, (iv) 35, (v) 40 and (vi) 45 and (b) when they were over 45 years. [61392]

Hazel Blears: The most recent figures relate to the membership of the police pension scheme as at 31 March 2003. The data collected included the pensionable service and date of birth of each member. From these data we can deduce age on entry into the scheme. However, this will not give the correct joining age in all cases—for instance where members have part-time service, career breaks, or have transferred in pensionable service from elsewhere.

Age at joining	Percentage
Under 20	24
20–24	46
25–29	21
30–34	6
35–39	2
40–44	1
Over 44	0

Pornography

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the merits of commissioning research into the potential effects of hardcore pornography. [60815]

Paul Goggins: There has been no recent research commissioned specifically into the potential harm and influence of hardcore pornography". The last HO commissioned review of research in this area—Pornography: Impacts and Influences—reported in 1990 and concluded that evidence of the adverse effects of pornography (in its broadest sense) was not clear cut.

As part of the joint work which the Department of Health (DH) and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) are doing on the Victims of Violence and Abuse Prevention Programme (WAPP), a Rapid Evidence Assessment has been jointly commissioned by the DH and the Home Office to assess the evidence of harm relating to exposure specifically to violent and extreme pornographic material.

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken (a) to restrict the availability and (b) to prevent the importation of violent pornography. [60819]

Paul Goggins: All published material, including violent pornography, is subject to the Obscene Publications Act 1959, which makes illegal the publication of an article whose effect, taken as a whole, is to tend to deprave and corrupt those likely to read, see or hear it. The responsibility for the prevention of the physical importation of obscene material lies with HM
 
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Revenue and Customs under section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act 1876 and section 170(2) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

The Obscene Publications Act applies equally to material published over the internet, though the overwhelming majority of potentially obscene material published on the internet originates abroad and beyond our jurisdiction. This raises a challenge to our controls on obscene material. The Government therefore recently undertook a consultation on proposals to make illegal the possession of a limited category of extreme pornographic material. The responses to this consultation are currently being considered.

Prisons

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the provision of food (a) in total and (b) per prisoner per day at each prison in each of the last 10 years. [60717]

Fiona Mactaggart: Additional data before 2001 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information about the cost of food at prisons operated by the contracted sector is not routinely collected and could also be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table shows the cost of food for prisoners whose meals are directly provided by the public Prison Service in total and by prison. A copy of the table will be placed in the Library.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the quality of catering in prisons. [60720]

Fiona Mactaggart: The National Audit Office report 'Serving Time: Prisoner Diet and Exercise' published on 9 March 2006 reported that the Prison Service has, in the past few years, improved the quality and range of meals as well as providing a well managed and professional catering service. I expect the Prison Service to continue improving the quality of catering by building on the progress already made.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average period of time per week available for physical exercise for inmates was at each prison in each of the last five years; what action he is taking to increase the (a) availability and (b) take-up of physical exercise; and if he will make a statement. [60721]

Fiona Mactaggart: The information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Availability and take up of PE is dependant on a whole range of factors including what facilities are provided and other competing regime demands. The Prison Service is committed to maximising the use and prisoner take up of PE facilities.

Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the work of the Prison Service's (a) catering and (b) physical education service. [60722]

Fiona Mactaggart: Providing meals and physical exercise for prisoners are key parts of a prisons regime. In 2004–05 the Prison Service served over 80 million
 
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meals and delivered over eight million hours of physical education while meeting the diverse needs of prisoners. Wherever possible both services provide purposeful activity and accredited training to help prisoners resettle into the community.

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates in (a) Coldingly, (b) Chelmsford, (c) Elmley, (d) Rochester, (e) Wormwood Scrubs, (f) Holloway and (g) Belmarsh prisons were found to be in the possession of drugs in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what quantity of drugs was seized in each prison in each year. [60857]

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

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