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4 May 2006 : Column 1853W—continued

Safe Countries

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many countries of the world he has judged to be sufficiently under the rule of law to offer no threat of torture or abuse to their nationals. [67462]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The Secretary of State for the Home Department does not make assessments about whether foreign countries are sufficiently under the rule of law to offer no threat of torture or abuse to their nationals. As is the case with other Departments, when the Home Department interacts with foreign countries on issues relating to torture and the abuse of their nationals, it proceeds on the basis of case-specific assessments.

Special Branch

Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2006, Official Report, columns 954–55W, on special branch, whether the special branch national training unit referred to in the Special Branch Summary of Responsibilities document of August 2004 has been disbanded. [50212]

Hazel Blears: The special branch national training unit has not been disbanded. It is based in the Metropolitan Police Service and provides three national special branch training courses: special branch initial training, the special branch ports course and a course for heads of special branch. In addition, it provides a range of more detailed and specific courses for the Metropolitan police special branch.
 
4 May 2006 : Column 1854W
 

Terrorism

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in the UK are suspected of having attended jihadist terrorist training camps abroad. [66871]

Mr. Charles Clarke: It is not our policy to comment on operational and intelligence matters.

Travellers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on law enforcement in Travellers' camps. [33869]

Hazel Blears: Equal standards of behaviour are expected from both the settled community and the Gypsy and Traveller community, and the police are responsible for the investigation of crime and antisocial behaviour wherever this occurs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Office have jointly published several documents which deal with enforcement against Gypsy and Traveller sites, and a specific document addressing antisocial behaviour will be issued later this year.

Young Offenders

Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the change in the cost of a place in Ashfield young offenders institution between 2003–04 and 2004–05. [67347]

Fiona Mactaggart: When HMYOI Ashfield opened in 1999 it held both young offenders and juveniles. In February 2004 the establishment was re-roled to hold juveniles only. The increased cost per place since that time is a reflection of the more intensive regime and level of intervention that juveniles receive.

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