Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 22 October 2009
Justice
Prisoners: Drugs
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of (a) male and (b) female offenders aged 10 to 17 years entered custody with a substance misuse problem in each year since 1997. [294183]
Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
The Department does not collect this information.
Prisoners: Mental Health
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners were diagnosed with mental health problems during the latest period for which figures are available. [294296]
Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
Figures about the number of prisoners with mental health problems are not routinely collected. However a survey of mental ill health in the prison population undertaken in 1997 by the Office for National Statistics estimated that around 90 per cent. of prisoners had at least one of the five disorders (personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse, and drug dependence) considered in the survey. Co-morbidity levels were also high.
In 2008 Ministry of Justice research suggested that common mental health problems are very prevalent with 82 per cent. of prisoners on sentences of less than four years identified with anxiety or depression.
Prisoners: Suicide
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many reported suicides there have been of prisoners in each year since 1997. [294301]
Claire Ward: The following table lists the annual totals for self-inflicted deaths in prison custody for each of the years 1997 to 2008.
| Self-inflicted deaths( 1) | |
| (1) The Prison Service definition of self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available. | |
Every death in prison is a tragedy, and affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply. Ministers, the Ministry of Justice and the National Offender Management Service are committed to learning from each death and to reducing the number of such incidents. Good care and support from staff save many lives, but such instances go largely unreported. Prisons successfully keep safe in any given month approximately 1,500 prisoners assessed to be at particular risk of suicide or self-harm. Deaths in prisons are among the most scrutinised of all incidents and each case is subject to a police investigation and independent investigation by the prisons probation ombudsman. Robust systems are in place for monitoring deaths and learning from them.
Sexual Offences: Prisons
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many complaints of sexual violence were recorded in prisons in the latest period for which figures are available. [294292]
Claire Ward: In the financial year 2008-09, 124 sexual assaults were recorded on the National Offender Management Service's incident reporting system (IRS). This figure includes proven and unproven allegations and is subject to change because some allegations are removed or reclassified following investigation.
Without cross reference to the police national database, we cannot confirm how many of these original allegations reached a full investigation. Such further information would not prove cost-effective to produce.
Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy. From mid-2007, this policy has been applied to both the public sector and contracted estate. The strategy requires each prison to undertake regular analysis of the problem areas, consider solutions and provide an action plan to improve personal safety and reduce violence. A whole prison approach is encouraged, engaging all staff, all disciplines and prisoners in challenging unacceptable behaviour, problem-solving and personal safety. This includes environmental and physical measures, as well as alternative ways of managing behaviour.
Transport
Vehicles: Insurance
13. John Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to reduce the number of vehicles driven on public roads without valid insurance; and if he will make a statement. [294806]
Paul Clark: Regulations are being drafted to bring into force a new scheme of continuous enforcement of motor insurance.
This scheme will identify those potentially uninsured by regularly comparing vehicle registration data on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's (DVLA) database with the database of insured vehicles maintained by the Motor Insurers' Bureau. Vehicle keepers found to be without valid insurance will be subject to enforcement action by the DVLA.
High-Speed Rail
14. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent discussions he has had on proposals for a high-speed rail link between the North West and London. [294807]
Chris Mole: The Secretary of State and my ministerial colleagues meet regularly with key stakeholders to discuss a range of transport issues, including high-speed rail.
The Secretary of State was in Manchester on Wednesday 21 October 2009 at the Northern Regeneration Summit, where he engaged with a range of organisations and regional bodies, and provided the keynote speech, on high-speed rail.
I also engaged with stakeholders across the North West, Yorkshire and Humber as part of my rail tour of those regions in September.
15. Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent progress has been made on consideration of proposals for a high-speed rail hub at Birmingham International Airport. [294808]
Chris Mole: "High Speed Two" has been formed to help develop the case for high-speed rail services. As a first stage, High Speed Two will report by the end of the year with for a proposed route from London to the West Midlands. This will include consideration of a range of route options as well as access to central London and the other cities served.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
16. Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the number of heavy goods vehicles registered overseas which used roads in the UK in 2008. [294809]
Paul Clark: In 2008 around 3.5 per cent. of all heavy goods vehicle traffic in Great Britain were estimated to be foreign-registered vehicles.
A34
17. Dr. Harris: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if the Government would support the construction of a full diamond interchange on the A34 at Lodge Hill near Abingdon; and if he will make a statement. [294811]
Chris Mole: Oxfordshire county council are examining the impact of junction improvements in the Central Oxfordshire area. The junction operation at Lodge Hill and the impact of any proposed development will need to be examined by the Vale of White Horse District Council for their Local Development Framework. The Government cannot consider supporting such a proposal until the need is established.
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much his Department spent on first class rail travel for officials in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [293338]
Chris Mole: The Department for Transport and its agencies do not record rail travel expenditure separately for different classes of travel. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Official travel in the Department is undertaken in accordance with the requirements set out in the Civil Service Management Code.
Marine and Coastguard Agency
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent progress has been made by the Marine and Coastguard Agency in implementing the findings of research it has commissioned on small vessel safety; and if he will make a statement. [293176]
Paul Clark: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in conjunction with the key stakeholders, including the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG), continues to work on improvements for small vessel safety with the industry through an improving safety culture, influenced by consultants, surveyors and, where appropriate, fishermen.
The MCA has an ongoing programme of research. Each piece of research is validated and subject to cost-benefit analysis. Where practicable and agreed suitable for application it is implemented either through mandatory regulation, instructions to surveyors, or guidance for industry.
Currently, the MCA is considering the outputs of research projects, carried out by a number of consultancies, and accident investigations focussing on the stability and seaworthiness of small vessels.
The review of the fishing vessel projects is being undertaken in conjunction with the Stability Sub-Group of FISG, to ensure they are consistent and address the underlying safety problems identified from the accident investigations.
Motorway: Closures
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on how many occasions in the last 12 months an initial decision fully to close a motorway by a road policing officer has been overturned by a supervisor at the Highways Agency or Highway Authority. [294744]
Chris Mole: No Highways Agency staff have the authority to overturn an instruction given by a police constable.
The Traffic Management Act 2004, Section 4 (1) states
"A traffic officer shall, when carrying out his duties, comply with any direction of a constable".
Railways: Standards
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what information his Department holds on recent levels of performance of rail services operated by (a) Virgin Trains and (b) London Midland between Milton Keynes and Euston. [294810]
Chris Mole:
The Department for Transport does not hold the specific data requested but the overall Virgin West Coast Public Performance Measure improved for the period from 23 August to 19 September 2009 against
the same period last year, with an increase of 5.7 per cent. from 83.3 per cent. to 89 per cent. For London Midland the equivalent change was a 4.1 per cent. increase, from 86.6 per cent. to 90.7 per cent.
Roads: Construction
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the length of time taken by local authorities adopting residential roads in new developments; and if he will make a statement. [294939]
Mr. Khan: The Department for Transport has no information on the adoption of streets in new developments by local highway authorities and has made no estimate of the time authorities take to do so.
Energy and Climate Change
Coal Fired Power Stations
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on (i) the reuse of waste ash and (ii) levels of radioactive emissions from coal-fired power stations. [292099]
Mr. Kidney [holding answer 12 October 2009]: DECC has not commissioned or evaluated research on the re-use of waste ash and levels of radioactive emissions from coal-fired power stations. According to industry sources, around 50 per cent. of waste pulverised fuel ash from coal-fired power stations is re-used in the construction sector.
Collaborative Offshore Wind Research into the Environment
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what procedures are used to allocate funding for research projects by Collaborative Offshore Wind Research into the Environment. [294039]
Mr. Kidney [holding answer 19 October 2009]: Collaborative Offshore Windfarm Research Into the Environment (COWRIE) is an independent registered Charity that was set up to advance and improve understanding and knowledge of the potential environmental impacts of offshore wind farm development in UK waters. COWRIE Ltd is governed by a board of trustees who are responsible for overseeing the administration of the company and its financial governance. Further information can be found on their website:
Departmental Rail Travel
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department has spent on first class rail travel for officials since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [293331]
Joan Ruddock: The Department's officials have spent a total of £217,425 on first-class rail travel since the inception of the Department on 3 October 2008.
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