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3 May 2006 : Column 1621W—continued
Pornography
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the National Federation of Retail Newsagents on the selling of pornographic magazines and newspapers and ways of avoiding the (a) sale and (b) availability of such material to children. [56005]
Paul Goggins: My officials, together with officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry met representatives of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents and representatives of magazine and newspaper trade organisations on 8 March to discuss the sale, display and placement of publications featuring sexual material and to emphasise the need to safeguard the interests of children.
As a result of these discussions, the NFRN have agreed to highlight the importance of this issue by putting out further advice to newsagents which includes guidance about the sale and display of 'top shelf' adult material as well as advice about the appropriate placement and display of other publications containing some sexual material.
Prison Education
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the number of hours of education undertaken by each prisoner in Young Offender Institutions per week. [65615]
Fiona Mactaggart:
Provisional data for 2005–06 show the average number of hours of education (not including Physical Education) undertaken by prisoners held in young offender institutions to be 7.6 hours per prisoner per week. The equivalent data for the small number of female young offenders are not available.
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Prisons
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was made available for staff education and development in prisons in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06; how much is planned for 2006–07; and if he will make a statement. [65581]
Fiona Mactaggart: In 2003–04 the identifiable staff training and development costs were £24.3 million, in 2004–05, £23.5 million and in 2005–06 £37.4 million. The latter figure includes £11.2 million for training in the new Phoenix accounting scheme. A significant amount of local training is carried out at individual prison establishments and could be identified only at disproportionate cost.
The total forecast training activity costs for 2006–07 are not yet available, as the detailed budget figures have not yet been finalised.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate comprehensive ethnic and religious monitoring across the prison estate. [65589]
Fiona Mactaggart: The Public Sector Prison Service routinely collects data on the ethnicity and religion of prisoners. It also collects data on the ethnicity, but not the religion, of staff.
In accordance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, ethnic monitoring data is used to monitor the impact of a range of policies and practices on prisoners, and of a range of employment functions on staff.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are in prison for non-violent offences; and how many were sentenced for each type of such offence. [65598]
Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the current female population serving sentences in prisons in England and Wales by offence type is contained in Table 2 of the February 2006 population in custody monthly tables available on the Home Office website. Out of 3,460 serving a custodial sentence, 2,494 were for non-violent offence types. These comprise all offence types except those categorised as violence against the person and robbery.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners in England and Wales are serving sentences of fewer than 12 months. [65796]
Fiona Mactaggart: Information on the population serving sentences of less than 12 months in prisons in England and Wales is contained in Table 1 of the February 2006 population in custody monthly tables. The proportion of prisoners among the sentenced population serving sentences of less than 12 months was 13 per cent. A copy of this publication is available at the following web-site: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/omcs.html.
Mr. Bellingham:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) complaints, (b) investigations and (c) disciplinary actions were dealt with by governors at each London prison relating to (i) prison support staff, (ii) prison officers and (iii) prison governors in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the average length of
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investigation was, broken down by grade; what proportion resulted in disciplinary action being taken, broken down by grade; and what disciplinary actions were taken, broken down by grade. [66547]
Fiona Mactaggart: The level of detail required by the hon. Member could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the statistical correlation between participation in education in custody and rates of reoffending upon release. [66548]
Fiona Mactaggart: The Research, Development and Statistics unit in the National Offender Management Service is conducting a reconviction analysis based on information collected in three resettlement surveys undertaken in 2001, 2003 and 2004. In these surveys prisoners nearing discharge were asked about their basic skills, education, training, employment, accommodation and drug use before prison, as well as on interventions they had received in prison and their family ties. The surveys were representative of prisoners nearing release in England and Wales. Reconviction details for the offenders in the surveys have been obtained from Police National Computer data. There are nearly 5,000 cases in the final dataset.
The main objective of the analysis is to increase understanding of links between resettlement factors (including education in custody) and reconviction, and to support future work on the effectiveness of measures to reduce re-offending.
A report on the reconviction analysis will be published.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations have been conducted into governors at each London prison in each of the last five years; what allegations have caused the investigations to be launched; what proportion of investigations concluded have recommended disciplinary action; what disciplinary action was taken in each case; and if he will make a statement. [66552]
Fiona Mactaggart: The information is as follows
Disciplinary investigations in London prisons between 2002 and 2006 to date
2004: Two investigations into allegations of racism, and racism and bullying. None of the investigations recommended disciplinary action.
2004: One investigation into illegal planting of listening device. Disciplinary action recommended but charge dismissed at hearing.
2005: One investigation into ABH. The case was referred to the police and the governor grade resigned following criminal conviction.
2005: One investigation into poor performance of duties, advice and guidance was recommended and given.
2004: One investigation into poor performance of duties, advice and guidance recommended and given. One investigation into inappropriate behaviour, no action recommended.
2005: One investigation into inappropriate behaviour, no action was recommended. One investigation into poor performance of duties, advice and guidance was recommended and given. One investigation into harassment, advice and guidance was recommended and given.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the Schito inquiry into the allocation of places at HM Prison Wandsworth. [66553]
Fiona Mactaggart: This was a disciplinary investigation and the information obtained was for the specific purpose of informing internal disciplinary processes. It will not be published.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the report of the recent performance testing exercise at HM Prison Wandsworth. [66554]
Fiona Mactaggart: The service level review carried out for the performance test of Wandsworth prison is an internal management tool produced for the London Area Manager. The Regional Offender Manager for London now independently monitors the service level agreement. There are no plans to publish the report.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) director of personnel, (b) director of finance, (c) doctor, (d) pharmacist, (e) pharmacy technician, (f) training manager and (g) chaplain posts in the Prison Service have been advertised in each of the last 12 months; in which (i) publications and (ii) professional journals the posts were advertised; how many applications were received for each post; and what proportion of (A) applicants, (B) those interviewed and (C) those appointed were from each ethnic group. [66555]
Fiona Mactaggart:
Responsibility for recruitment into the public sector Prison Service is devolved to local areas and detailed records are not maintained centrally. Ethnicity information is collated for diversity monitoring and is included in the table. Information on total posts advertised or where they were advertised is not available but total numbers recruited have been provided. The outstanding information is not collated centrally could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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(14) Not a recognised grade and therefore not recorded in this way.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what action he is taking to avoid duplication of management roles by way of the operation of prison clusters; [66557]
(2) what proportion of staff were appointed to their preferred role as part of the Prison Service's Sheppey Improvement Team project; [66558]
(3) what the cost of the work of the Prison Service's Sheppey Improvement Team was; and what defined output improvements were delivered. [66559]
Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service will consider clustering prison establishments, where doing so will achieve more effective and efficient performance within that group of establishments. A review of management roles and responsibilities is key to avoiding duplication, and is a significant aspect of the clustering process and essential to realising benefits.
Of the 796 staff who were asked to express a preference:
The cost of the Sheppey Improvement Team was £296,741. This is the cost of the central team and does not include the cost of the contributions from other groups in the Prison Service.
The proposals approved by the evaluation team demonstrate value for money, more constructive activities and improved resettlement opportunities for prisoners. The process will deliver improvements in several measurable indicators including key performance targets and compliance with standards.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the operational reasons were in each case for governors at HM Prison Wandsworth to travel to (a) Japan, (b) Australia and (c) Antigua to escort repatriated prisoners back to the United Kingdom in the last 12 months; [66563]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) prison officers and (b) governor grades travelling to (i) Japan, (ii) Australia and (iii) Antigua to escort repatriated prisoners back to the United Kingdom in the last 12 months. [66564]
Fiona Mactaggart:
No operational managers (governor grades) have escorted repatriated prisoners to any country in the last 12 months. The costs, excluding air fares, of the prison officers undertaking escorts of
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repatriated prisoners to the countries in question is as follows: Japan—0, Antigua—£20,202, Australia—£8,466.63. These figures include salary costs.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Prison Service Violence Reduction Strategy. [66568]
Fiona Mactaggart: The national Violence Reduction Strategy was launched in May 2004. The national strategy requires each establishment to have in place a local Violence Reduction Strategy appropriate to needs. A whole prison approach is encouraged, with the aim of reducing violence and fear of violence. A focus on personal safety, supporting victims, and repairing the physical and emotional harm caused by violence or abuse, links closely with the suicide prevention strategy.
Prisons are audited against Prison Service Standard 53, Violence Reduction, which identifies strengths and areas for improvement at each establishment. This evidence suggests that many establishments have implemented thorough local strategies, which were formulated with the close involvement of focus groups of staff and prisoners. A revised violence reduction strategy is planned for 2007 to reflect expected learning from the forthcoming report of the inquiry into the death of Zahid Mubarek and from a recent research study, which was undertaken to identify good practice in implementing the violence reduction strategy in the first year. There has also been an operational review of violence reduction, many of the recommendations from which have already been adopted in prisons.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the Goods Again project at HM Prison Onley to other establishments. [66569]
Fiona Mactaggart: The Goods Again project, which involves a partnership between the community sector, Onley prison and the local authority to provide an electrical goods re-use service, is still in its infancy. As the scheme progresses and develops, consideration will be given to whether it is possible and appropriate to expand its use to other prisons and areas.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason juveniles are being detained at HM Prison Woodhill; what facilities are designated for juveniles being detained there; what plans he has to move juvenile detainees from HM Prison Woodhill; and when he plans to complete those moves. [66571]
Fiona Mactaggart:
Three juveniles are detained at Woodhill because of the security risk they present. The Youth Justice Board, is currently satisfied with the arrangements in place.
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The juveniles are in a self-contained wing in single rooms. They are permitted their own clothing, association, they attend education and gymnasium and have access to work, a radio, CDs and a games console. Subject to behaviour, a television is provided. They are able to have regular social visits, and access to the telephone.
An alternative suitable location which offers an appropriate level of security is being sought.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on implementation of anti-bullying procedures at HM Prison Woodhill. [66572]
Fiona Mactaggart: A Violence Reduction Strategy is in place at Woodhill which incorporates an anti-bullying management process. A Safer Custody Coordinator has been appointed. Staff are encouraged to complete Security Information Reports to enable analysis of bullying at Woodhill and thereby help to direct resources and interventions to address bullying.
Bullying is known to be more prevalent among young offenders at Woodhill. Action taken to reduce bullying among this group includes:
An anti-bullying course has been developed specifically for young offenders at the prison to raise awareness of bullying issues, and to encourage young offenders to address their behaviour. To date, 106 young offenders have attended the course;
Development of an anti-bullying video with Stantonbury Campus aimed at highlighting bullying in prisons to encourage prisoners to change their behaviour;
Staff training to raise awareness of bullying issues and to enable staff to deliver the anti-bullying course to prisoners;
Young offenders have their own dedicated gym session to address the problem of bullying in the showers.
The work with young offenders will be extended to the adult population.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to improve the relationship between staff and inmates at HM Prison Leeds. [66575]
Fiona Mactaggart: Measures to improve staff prisoner relationships have been agreed as part of an establishment performance improvement plan and work is being undertaken by the head of prisoner services and the decency team to ensure that staff engage appropriately with prisoners. Work is also ongoing to develop request and complaints processes to ensure that both staff and prisoners have confidence in the system.
The prison service director of operations and area manager have agreed to a reduction of 104 in the operational capacity (from 1,254 down to 1,150). Despite this significant reduction the same resources have been maintained to facilitate staff in improving staff prisoner relationships at Leeds.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the use of the special cell at HM Prison Leeds. [66592]
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Fiona Mactaggart: Following HM Chief Inspector of Prison's inspection, the special cell is only used where full relocation is necessary for violent and/or refractory prisoners. Each usage is authorised by a governor and a quality assurance checklist has been implemented. Guidance ensures that all paperwork explains why the special accommodation has been used and that this is never to be used solely for preventing self- harm. Regular contact with the prisoner takes place, at no more than 15-minute intervals, with staff/prisoner interactions recorded in the unit log sheet.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to improve the physical working conditions for staff at prisons. [66593]
Fiona Mactaggart: Prison management have an obligation to ensure that all staff work in a safe and clean environment. As part of the strategic development of the prison estate, the National Offender Management Service will improve, where possible, those facilities used by staff as well as by prisoners.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the cost will be of the Prison Service's listen to improve scheme; [66594]
(2) what budget is available for the development of local people plans at (a) each prison and (b) Prison Service headquarters; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure (i) efficiency, (ii) effectiveness and (iii) value for money; [66595]
(3) how participants in the Prison Service's People Strategy will be selected; [66596]
(4) if he will make a statement on the launch of the Prison Service's People Strategy. [66597]
Fiona Mactaggart: The public sector Prison Service launched its People Strategy in January 2006. The People Strategy will be delivered locally through Local People Plans developed from Listen to Improve groups. These are staff consultation and involvement groups to gather staff views on what should be addressed in the Local People Plan, with staff volunteering to take part. The direct costs of facilitating the Listen to Improve groups were £140,500 in 2005–06 and are forecast to be £222,000 in 2006–07. A breakdown of full costs, by prison establishment, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Implementation of the People Strategy is overseen by a programme board and subject to regular review by the Prison Service's Change Management Board.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the job evaluation scheme for the Prison Service in the eastern region. [66598]
Fiona Mactaggart:
The Prison Service is currently developing a new job evaluation system (JES) to cover the majority of its directly employed staff. As part of this process, a pilot exercise has been run in the service's eastern region, which involved interviewing a representative sample of about 100 postholders. The results of these interviews are currently being analysed and will inform the future development of the JES. The work on JES is an essential building block in the service's strategy for pay and workforce reform.
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Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Prison Service's deaths in custody initiative. [66600]
Fiona Mactaggart: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 15 March 2006, Official Report, column 2313–14W and on 29 March 2006, Official Report, column 1038–39W.
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2006, Official Report, column 256, on access to drugs in prison, what steps are being taken to combat access to illegal drugs in prisons. [66687]
Fiona Mactaggart: A comprehensive range of measures is in place to reduce the supply of drugs into prisons. It includes:
Since 1996–97 the level of prison drug misuse as measured by the random mandatory drug testing programme has fallen by more than 50 per cent.
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