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20 Apr 2009 : Column 344W—continued
Pentonville Prison: Prison Escapes
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will hold an inquiry into the escape from HM Prison Pentonville on 27 March 2009. [268997]
Mr. Hanson: The National Offender Management Service has a well established process for investigating serious incidents in prison, and all escapes are investigated. This was the only escape from inside a prison establishment in 2008-09. This reflects a significant achievement on behalf of staff working in prisons to protect the public.
Prison Sentences
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were sentenced in courts in England and Wales in (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006, (e) 2007 and (f) 2008; and what proportion of such sentences included a compensation order in each year. [269504]
Maria Eagle: The available information is shown in the following table. Statistics for 2008 will be available when ‘Sentencing Statistics 2008’ is published later in the year.
| Number of offenders sentenced and number and proportion made to pay compensation( 1) 2003-07 | |||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | |
| (1) Excludes summary motoring offences Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice | |||||
Prison Service: Manpower
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many members of staff were employed at (a) HM Prison (i) Belmarsh, (ii) Brixton, (iii) Holloway, (iv) Latchmere House, (v) Pentonville, (vi) Wandsworth and (vii) Wormwood Scrubs, (b) HM Young Offenders, Institution Feltham and (c) Clelland House on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [268756]
Mr. Hanson: Information on the number of staff employed in London establishments and at Cleland House on 28 February 2009 requested is contained in the table.
| Location | Function | Operational capacity | Staff employed |
Prison Service: Political Activities
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what guidance is provided to HM Prison Service staff in respect of political activity; and if he will make a statement. [268760]
Mr. Hanson:
The advice given to staff in HM Prison Service is exactly the same as that given to all civil servants. The advice is contained within the Prison
Service Staff Handbook and is drawn from the generic guidance in the Civil Service Code.
Political activities are divided into two areas; local and national. The freedom and extent to which staff may engage in political activities is dependant on the grade of the member of staff and which of the following three groups they fall into: politically free, intermediate or politically restricted.
The general principle that applies to staff that wish to engage in political activities is that every care should be taken to avoid causing any embarrassment to Ministers and the Prison Service by engaging in matters that are deemed to be politically controversial.
Prisoners
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what measures are in place to ensure that records held by (a) his Department and (b) HM Prison Service accurately record the identity of prisoners. [268863]
Mr. Hanson: Prisoners are only accepted into custody on production of a valid warrant signed by an officer of a court, or other lawful authority. Those escorted from a court or transferred from another establishment will be accompanied by a Prisoner (or Person) Escort Record form. Other documentation relating to the prisoner's identity may include a temporary release licence, licence revocation order, transfer order, or authority to detain under immigration or anti terrorism legislation.
In all cases the staff receiving the prisoner into the establishment will confirm that he or she is the person named on the warrant or other document. If there is any dispute, staff will still take the prisoner into custody, unless there is clear evidence of error, but will endeavour to resolve the issue. Prisoners will be allowed to contact their family or a friend, and their legal representative to seek advice as soon as possible, and will be informed of their right to petition the Secretary of State.
The prisoner’s details will be recorded on his or her personal record, which accompanies the prisoner whenever he or she transfers from one establishment to another, and on the prison's IT system. Any aliases or changes of the prisoner’s name will be cross-referenced in all records. Prisoners are photographed and fingerprinted shortly after arrival in prison, providing further confirmation of their identity.
Prisoners Release
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 31 March 2009, Official Report, column 1070W, when he expects there to be sufficient capacity within the prison system to end the End of Custody Licence scheme. [268982]
Mr. Straw: End of Custody Licence (ECL) will be brought to end as soon as there is sufficient capacity within the prison system to do so. I set out a comprehensive strategy for managing the increasing prison population in December 2007 and we have been pursuing that strategy vigorously. We are monitoring the position carefully and will end the scheme when sufficient headroom exists.
Prisoners Release: Reoffenders
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders released under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme have re-offended while on a tag in each year since the scheme's commencement; and what offences were committed by such offenders. [265887]
Mr. Straw: Reoffending data in respect of offenders who are subject to the Home Detention Curfew are currently being audited. This exercise will be completed in May, when I will write to the hon. and learned Member, providing the information he has requested and will place a copy of the reply in the Library.
Prisoners: Females
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many single mothers were in prison on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [245431]
Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service does not routinely keep information on the number of prisoners who are single mothers.
Prisons: Alcoholic Drinks
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisons in England and Wales have an alcohol strategy. [266595]
Mr. Straw: The National Alcohol Strategy for Prisoners was introduced in December 2004. The strategy provides a framework for addressing prisoners' alcohol-related problems. It balances treatment and support with supply reduction, and provides a benchmark against which prisons can formulate an appropriate strategy if there is a local need.
A survey of the estate shows that:
37(1) prisons/young offender institutions (YOIs) have a separate alcohol strategy;
97(1) prisons/YOIs have an integrated drug and alcohol strategy; and
five prisons do not have an alcohol strategy.
(1) Huntercombe YOI has a separate alcohol strategy and an integrated substance strategy for young people so is included in both sets of figures.
Four of the five prisons currently without an alcohol strategy are planning to develop one by 2009-10.
Prisons: Drugs
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many visitors to prisons were (a) suspected of, (b) banned for and (c) arrested for smuggling drugs into prison in 2007-08; and how many such visitors were on closed visits as a result of smuggling drugs into prison. [266832]
Mr. Hanson:
In March 2008, the Government commissioned a report (the Blakey Review) into the effectiveness of measures to disrupt the supply of drugs
into prisons, and all ten of the report's recommendations have been accepted and work has begun to implement them. This report and the Government's response were published on 7 July 2008.
The data on the actions taken in 2007-08 against visitors suspected of smuggling drugs are given in the following table. The Ministry of Justice do not keep records of the number of social visitors. From a very indicative calculation we estimate this to be at least three million social visits annually.
| Number | |
| (1 )Visitors are suspected of smuggling drugs in a number of ways, on a case by case basis. This can include prison or police intelligence concerning the visitor and/or the prisoner, drugs dog indications, drugs test results, suspicious behaviour or movements in the visits hall, or drugs being found in the possession of visitors during pre-entry searches. | |
The banning or placing on closed visits of a visitor is an administrative measure which can be imposed by a prison on the basis of suspicion but without the recovery of drugs. This level of suspicion would however be insufficient for a police arrest, which requires a higher standard of proof, often with the recovery of drugs.
Where drugs are recovered from visitors it is National Offender Management Service policy to refer the matter to the police.
These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what methodology is used in the random selection of prisoners for drug testing. [268862]
Mr. Hanson: Names of those to be tested each month are generated at random by a computer programme contained within the Local Inmate Data System.
Prisons are required to conduct all random tests from the random list. In a number of closely defined circumstances a prisoner may not be available for test. Prisons are then required, in order to meet the monthly testing target, to draw in strict order additional prisoners from a reserve list.
Prisons: Finance
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what means will be used to finance the construction and operation of Titan prisons. [268806]
Mr. Straw: Finance issues relating to the construction and operation of the new prisons, will form part of our response to the consultation on these prisons. This response will be published shortly.
Prisons: Lancashire
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had in the last 12 months with Lancaster and Morecambe City Council on the construction of a Titan prison in the district; and if he will make a statement. [266039]
Mr. Hanson: No discussions have taken place with Lancaster and Morecombe city council in the last 12 months about the construction of new prisons in their districts.
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