Judaism: Festivals and Special Occasions

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2010, Official Report, column 639W, on Judaism: festivals and special occasions, who drafted his Chanukah message to the Jewish community; if he will reconsider his decision not to publish this message in the Official Report; on what basis the decision was taken; and if he will make a statement. [R] [41791]

Alistair Burt: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 14 December 2010, Official Report, column 639W.

Messages of greeting are published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website and on the websites of relevant embassies.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to prevent the flow of arms and funding from Iran to organisations opposed to the state of Israel. [R] [42065]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 393W

Alistair Burt: We have longstanding concerns about Iranian support to groups which espouse violence in the middle east, including those who oppose the state of Israel. We take seriously Israel’s legitimate security concerns and regularly raise this issue with senior political leaders in the region.

Most recently, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised arms transfers to Hezbollah with President Assad when he visited Syria on 27 January 2011.

Iran must stop attempting to exploit regional challenges for its own means. We will continue to push for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions which call for the disarmament of these armed groups and prohibit weapons transfers and give our full support to the UN sanctions committees pursuing and investigating sanctions violations.

Overseas Aid

Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his Department's programme expenditure was allocated to (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral programmes in each year from 2005-06 to 2011-12. [40207]

Mr Hague: The actual Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) programme expenditure on bilateral and multilateral programmes in each year from 2005-06 to 2009-10 is shown in the table. The figures for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are forecasts based on allocated budgets:

£ million

Bilateral Multilateral Total

2005-06

13.3

131.0

144.3

2006-07

24.3

103.7

128.0

2007-08

22.4

102.6

125.0

2008-09

26.7

111.0

137.7

2009-10

28.2

108.8

137.0

2010-11

11.6

111.0

122.6

2011-12

19.0

120.5

139.5

The figures cover FCO discretionary policy programmes.

Justice

Bribery Act 2010

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011, Official Report, column 401W, on the Bribery Act 2010, if he will publish the further representations he has received during the consultation process since the publication of the impact assessment in 2009 on the Bribery Bill. [42097]

Mr Djanogly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke) to the hon. Member for Northampton South (Mr Binley) on 14 February 2011, Official Report, column 577W.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 394W

Courts: Closures

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what estimate his Department has made of the potential total receipts from the disposal of the magistrates courts and county courts announced on 14 December 2010; [42961]

(2) what estimate his Department has made of the annual savings to accrue from ceasing the requirement to maintain the magistrates courts and county courts identified for closure in his announcement on 14 December 2010; [42962]

(3) what estimate his Department has made of the savings to accrue from the closure of the magistrates courts and county courts identified for closure in his announcement of 14 December 2010. [42963]

Mr Djanogly: Gross savings from the closure of the courts announced on 14 December 2010 are estimated to be in the region of £41.5 million over the spending review period. The resource cost of closures are currently being reviewed as part of implementation planning. It is hoped that £38.5 million will be received from the sale of assets.

Ceasing the requirement to maintain the court buildings does not entail savings, per se, as this is not money that would necessarily be spent were a building to be retained. Rather, there will be substantial cost avoidance from not needing to maintain the buildings that are disposed of. The £41.5 million of estimated gross savings does not therefore include any savings associated with reductions in maintenance costs.

Departmental Buildings

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the running costs in each category were for each of the central London buildings operated by his Department in the latest period for which figures are available; [42955]

(2) what progress he has made on the proposed reduction in the number of his Department’s properties in central London; and what estimate he has made of the likely savings to accrue from the reduction. [42958]

Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), including executive agencies and arm’s length bodies, currently operates 13 central London headquarters administrative buildings in addition to prison and court properties. The following table shows 2009-10 property costs for the three headquarters administrative buildings in central London for which costs are managed centrally.

Building/Category Total (£ million)

MoJ headquarters, 102 Petty France

 

Property rent and rates

19.7

Maintenance

2.8

Other property costs

3.0

Fuel and utilities

1.3

Charges on leased assets

12.4

Total

39.2

   

5 (th) Floor, 30 Millbank

 

Property rent and rates

0.4

Maintenance

0.2

1 Mar 2011 : Column 395W

Other property costs

0.1

Total

0.7

   

Clive House, 70 Petty France (1)

 

Property rent and rates

5.2

Maintenance

0.9

Other property costs

0.3

Fuel and utilities

0.2

Total

6.6

(1) Vacant during works to refit as National Offender Management Service headquarters—May 2009 to June 2010.

In 2007, the Department began a programme to improve the usage of its administrative estate. Between then and February 2011, the MoJ has reduced the number of central London headquarters administrative properties by nine. The estimated saving during this period is £22.5 million a year (Resource Department Expenditure Limit), including depreciation. In addition to the annual resource savings, the Department sold two freehold buildings in central London for £67 million in 2010 (Capital receipt).

By 2015, the MoJ is planning to reduce the number of headquarters administrative properties in central London to four; reduce workstations from around 8,000 to around 4,000 through flexible work space and reduce the operational costs by £47 million a year.

Departmental Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of his Department’s adherence to each of the principles of good employment practice set out in the Cabinet Office publication Principles of Good Employment Practice. [42628]

Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice is fully committed to supporting the principles and will work with suppliers to apply the principles where appropriate. However since the principles were only recently launched on 13 December 2010 it is too early to be able to give a more detailed assessment at this stage.

The impact of these principles on employment practice will be reviewed by the Public Services Forum in January 2012. The forum will assess how the principles contribute to good employment practices in the delivery of contracted out services.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) administrative and (b) front line efficiency savings his Department plans to make in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14. [42947]

Mr Kenneth Clarke: I will address 2014-15 in addition to the years quoted in the question, because departmental plans encompass the full spending review period.

The Ministry of Justice will make savings of 33% in real terms from its administrative budget by the end of the spending review period. Departmental administration budgets for the period were published in spending review 2010, and the Ministry of Justice's allocations are as follows:

1 Mar 2011 : Column 396W

£ million
  Baseline (1) Allocation

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15

Administration budget(1)

704

655

606

561

517

(1)Administration budgets have been expanded to include arm's length bodies and this is reflected in increased 2010-11 baselines compared to 2010-11 outturn.

In 2014-15, the Department will make estimated total efficiency savings of around £1 billion. This figure includes savings against front line operations, ‘support for delivery’ functions and administrative spend. Savings plans for individual years in the spending review period are currently being developed.

Departmental Interpreters

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for which services provided by (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies interpreters provide services in a language or languages other than English; how many interpreters are employed or subcontracted for each non-English language; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of interpretation costs incurred in the latest period for which figures are available. [42896]

Mr Blunt: Interpretation and translation services in relation to the Ministry of Justice are provided by Her Majesty’s Courts Service, the Legal Services Commission, the National Offender Management Service, the Tribunal Service and the Office of the Public Guardian to:

Defendants in criminal cases

Defence witnesses in criminal cases (interpretation services for prosecution witnesses are provided by the prosecutor)

Offenders serving a custodial or community sentence

Claimants in tribunal cases

Parties to civil and family proceedings

Those who lack the capacity to make financial or health-related decisions for themselves.

The Department uses the services of freelance and agency interpreters and translators who are booked for individual assignments. Information is not held centrally on the number of bookings made and the languages required for those bookings. Estimated annual spend across the Department is in the region of £30 million for foreign language interpretation and translation and for language services for the deaf and deafblind. A project is under way to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the arrangements across the whole of the justice system, including interpretation and translation services provided by the police.

Departmental Manpower

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employ since May 2010. [42297]

Mr Djanogly: From 7 May 2010 to 30 September 2010, the date of the latest published data, 2,227 members of staff and 2,032.54 full-time equivalent staff left the Ministry of Justice. These figures only include paid staff who leave the Department and do not include staff who are off pay and have left—eg. those who are on career breaks and subsequently resign.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 397W

Ministry of Justice figures include MoJ Headquarters, the National Offender Management Service, Her Majesty's Courts Service, the Tribunals Service, the Office of the Public Guardian, Wales Office, and Scotland Office (including Scotland Office and Advocate General for Scotland staff on Scottish Government systems).

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available. [42378]

Mr Djanogly: The latest published headcount data for the Ministry of Justice are as at 30 September 2010. At that date 78,013 members of staff and 73,483.75 full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Justice figures include MoJ Headquarters, the National Offender Management Service, Her Majesty’s Courts Service, the Tribunals Service, the Office of the Public Guardian, Wales Office, and Scotland Office (including Scotland Office and Advocate-General for Scotland staff on Scottish Government systems).

Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42394]

Mr Djanogly: As at 31 May 2010 78,537 members of staff and 74,064.45 full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Ministry of Justice.

Ministry of Justice figures include MoJ Headquarters, the National Offender Management Service, Her Majesty's Courts Service, the Tribunals Service, the Office of the Public Guardian, Wales Office, and Scotland Office (including Scotland Office and Advocate General for Scotland staff on Scottish Government systems).

Departmental Redundancy

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the redundancy costs attributable to his proposals for reductions in posts in his Department in the next four years. [42959]

Mr Kenneth Clarke: My Department have made no estimate for the cost of redundancy at this stage as the focus has been on completing planning for the spending review, and making reductions through a swift, MoJ-wide voluntary early departure scheme. The scheme was open to all staff that are not in front line roles.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 398W

The proposals for reductions include voluntary early departure schemes, use of any natural attrition, redeployment and career transition services to ensure there are as few redundancies as possible.

My Department's response to the spending review marks the beginning of a programme of radical change which will fundamentally reform the way justice is provided by 2015. I am confident that the process will lead to a transformed Ministry of Justice which is lean, transparent, and affordable.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what regulations his Department introduced between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011; [42081]

(2) what regulations his Department removed between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011. [42091]

Mr Djanogly: The only statutory instrument which the Ministry of Justice has laid in Parliament between 18 November 2010 and 8 February 2011 which has regulatory impact is the Legal Services Act 2007 (Levy) (No. 2) Rules 2010.

No statutory instrument laid between the period above removed regulations that have regulatory impact.

Drugs: Convictions

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of convictions for drug-related offences resulted in a prison sentence in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009 (i) nationally, (ii) in Sussex and (iii) in Brighton and Hove. [42006]

Mr Blunt: Convictions for drug-related offences and the proportion that resulted in immediate custodial sentence, by court type, and area for 2007-09 (latest available) is shown in tables 1 and 2.

Table 1 provides magistrates courts data for the Sussex police force area, Sussex Central local justice area (in which Brighton and Hove magistrates court is located) and England and Wales.

Table 2 gives data for the Crown courts in the Sussex police force area and England and Wales. There is no specific Crown court that deals with the Brighton and Hove area. Therefore information for all Crown courts dealing with cases from Sussex police force has been provided.

Information for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office respectively.

Table 1: Defendants found guilty of drug offences at magistrates courts and sentenced, by area, for 2007-09 (1, 2)
Found guilty/sentence/area 2007 2008 (3) 2009

Sussex police force area

     

Found guilty

815

875

958

Sentenced

680

781

886

Of which given:

     

Immediate custody

19

25

30

Other sentence(4)

661

756

856

Proportion of those sentenced who were given immediate custody (%)

3

3

3

       

1 Mar 2011 : Column 399W

1 Mar 2011 : Column 400W

Sussex (Central)

     

Found guilty

230

279

266

Sentenced

204

245

238

Of which given:

     

Immediate custody

5

14

4

Other sentence(4)

199

231

234

Proportion of those sentenced who were given immediate custody (%)

2

6

2

       

England and Wales

     

Found guilty

35,710

42,512

45,577

Sentenced

33,098

39,710

42,967

Of which given:

     

Immediate custody

1,178

1,293

1,042

Other sentence(4)

31,920

38,417

41,925

Proportion of those sentenced who were given immediate custody (%)

4

3

2

(1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (4) Includes: absolute/conditional discharge, fine, community sentence, suspended sentence and otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.
Table 2: Defendants found guilty of drug offences at Crown court and sentenced, by area, for 2007-09 (1, 2)
Found guilty/sentence/area 2007 2008 2009

Sussex police force area

     

Found guilty

326

395

462

Sentenced

448

486

529

Of which given:

     

Immediate custody

308

316

366

Other sentence(3)

140

170

163

Proportion of those sentenced who were given immediate custody (%)

69

65

69

       

England and Wales

     

Found guilty

8,855

10,431

11,216

Sentenced

11,402

13,201

13,653

Of which given:

     

Immediate custody

7,008

8,195

8,383

Other sentence(3)

4,394

5,006

5,270

Proportion of those sentenced who were given immediate custody (%)

61

62

61

(1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes: absolute/conditional discharge, fine, community sentence, suspended sentence and otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services: Ministry of Justice.

Duchy of Cornwall: Coroners and Justice Act 2009

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what basis his Department sought to consult the Duchy of Cornwall on the proposals for the Coroners and Justice Act 2009; and whether any amendments to the proposed legislation were made in consequence. [41613]

Mr Blunt: We do not disclose the contents of correspondence with members of the Royal Family or the Royal Household.

Fines

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the amount of unpaid monies relating to the issue of an on-the-spot fine in each of the last five years. [42907]

Mr Blunt: Data on the number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued to persons aged 16 and over, in England and Wales for 2005–09 (latest available) and

1 Mar 2011 : Column 401W

the outcome can be viewed in the table. It is not possible to make an accurate assessment of monies outstanding

1 Mar 2011 : Column 402W

as, once fines are issued in default of payment, they are indistinguishable from other fines.

Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to all persons aged 16 and over, by age group and year, 2005-09 (1 2) England and Wales
        Of those paid

Number issued Total paid in full % Paid in full within 21days % Paid in full outside 21 days %

2005

146,481

77,247

53

56,823

39

20,424

14

2006

201,197

104,546

52

76,591

38

27,955

14

2007

207,544

106,925

52

82,133

40

24,792

12

2008

176,164

91,289

52

71,244

40

20,045

11

2009

170,393

90,116

53

69,834

41

20,282

12

  Other outcomes

Fine registered % Court hearing requested % PND cancelled % Potential prosecution % Outcome unknown %

2005

62,179

42

1,588

1

2,437

2

1,805

1

1,225

1

2006

87,796

44

1,480

1

4,268

2

2,710

1

397

0

2007

90,057

43

1,253

1

5,249

3

3,980

2

80

0

2008

76,155

43

1,062

1

4,089

2

3,514

2

55

0

2009

67,646

40

897

1

4,186

2

7,257

4

291

0

(1) Percentages may not add up due to rounding. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Harassment: Convictions

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average sentence length was for persons convicted of harassment under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in England and Wales in each year from 1998 to 2010. [42370]

Mr Blunt: The average sentence lengths for persons convicted under section 2 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2009 (latest available) are shown in the following table.

Data for 2010 are planned for publication in the spring of 2011.

Number of persons found guilty at all courts, sentenced to immediate custody, the average custodial sentence length and other disposal under section 2 (1) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales, 1998 to 2009 (2,3)
Outcome 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 (4) 2009

Found guilty

2,221

2,753

2,933

2,806

2,864

3,020

3,348

3,635

3,768

3,745

3,931

4,365

Total sentenced(5)

2,224

2,745

2,934

2,813

2,868

3,033

3,344

3,678

3,789

3,770

3,939

4,377

of which

                       

Other disposals(7)

1,979

2,435

2,605

2,506

2,557

2,726

2,996

3,343

3,412

3,346

3,420

3,812

Immediate custody

245

310

329

307

311

307

348

335

377

424

519

565

                         

Average custodial sentence length (months)(6)

3.2

7.2

5.8

5.8

5.0

7.1

5.6

6.2

5.7

4.9

5.9

6.4

(1) The following statutes were used for the corresponding offence: Protection from Harassment Act 1997, s.2: Offence of harassment; Protection from Harassment Act 1997, s.2 as amended by Crime and Disorder Act 1998—came into force 30 September 1998: Racially aggravated offence of harassment Religiously aggravated offence of harassment Racially or religiously aggravated offence of harassment (2) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (5) The sentenced column may exceed those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. (6) Excludes life and indeterminate sentences. (7) Includes: absolute/conditional discharge, fine, community sentence, suspended sentence and otherwise dealt with. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice

HM Courts Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made on the proposed merger of HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service. [42949]

Mr Djanogly: Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is the new agency which brings together

1 Mar 2011 : Column 403W

the administration of HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service. It is due to be launched on 1 April 2011. We expect to have the new senior structure for the organisation in place by early April and implementation of the structural design for the rest of the organisation will be completed by April 2012.

The new structure brings together corporate functions to remove duplication and increase the efficiency of the administration. Operating as a single organisation will provide the platform to improve accessibility, drive up the quality of services we offer to the public and provide a more appropriate environment to users. The public consultation—“A Platform for the Future”—which seeks views on these benefits closed on 25 February 2011 and we expect to publish a response in early April. Over the spending review period it is estimated that the integration of HMCS and the Tribunals Service will deliver savings of £112 million.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget was for (a) HM Courts Service and (b) the Tribunals Service and its predecessor in (i) 1997-98 and (ii) 2010-11. [42950]

Mr Djanogly: The information requested is as follows:

The budget for Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS):

(i) HMCS was formed on 1 April 2005 by the merger of the Court Service and 42 Magistrates Areas. Following the creation of HMCS the accounting records of the Court Service were archived and accessing them to provide the information back to 1997 would be disproportionately expensive for the Department. Information for magistrates courts is not recorded centrally as it is held by individual local authorities and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost;

(ii) £874.5 million in 2010-11.

The budget for Tribunals Service:

(i) The Tribunals Service was created on 1 April 2006 through the bringing together of 26 previously separate agencies or similar bodies. As such, we cannot provide figures for 1997-98. To do so would incur disproportionate cost;

(ii) £247.1 million in 2010-11.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department proposes to save from the merger of HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [42951]

Mr Djanogly: Through the integration of HMCS and the Tribunals Service we expect to make savings of £112 million over the course of the spending review.

The estimated savings for each year are as follows:

(a) £15 million in 2011-12;

(b) £29 million in 2012-13;

(c) £34 million in 2013-14.

We estimate annual savings of £34 million from 2014-15 onwards. A large proportion of these savings come from a reduction in staffing levels but we also assume a number of savings through a reduced overhead and removal of duplication (for example through reduced numbers of agency non-executive directors). We aim to manage the reduction in staffing levels through redeployment, natural wastage, and voluntary early departures. There will be costs associated with this over the spending review period.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 404W

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what change in staffing levels he expects as a result of the merger of HM Courts Service and the Tribunals Service in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14. [42952]

Mr Djanogly: As a result of the integration of HMCS and the Tribunals Service, staff levels are estimated to reduce in total by 703. This reduction is at headquarters, regional and area management levels, but not at the frontline. It includes an estimated reduction of 118 in the current year (2010-11) and further reductions as follows:

(a) by 426 in 2011-12;

(b) by 158 in 2012-13;

(c) we do not expect a further change in headcount as a result of integration in 2013-14.

The proposed organisation design for the new agency is currently subject to consultation with staff. We aim to manage as many staff exits as possible through redeployment, natural wastage and voluntary early departures.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of reductions in staff in HM Courts Service in the next four years. [42954]

Mr Kenneth Clarke: The estimated cost of reductions in staff in HM Courts and Tribunals Service in the next four years is circa £35 million.

Home Detention Curfews

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions he has been asked by prison governors to provide advice on specific cases concerning an application for early release under a home detention curfew in each of the last five years. [42922]

Mr Blunt: It is not possible to provide figures for the number of occasions the Secretary of State for Justice has been asked by prison governors to provide advice on cases concerning applications for release under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme. The Ministry of Justice provides a helpline service for general and specific advice relating to the Home Detention Curfew Scheme (HDC) but the Department does not collate information on how often advice is provided.

Legal Advice and Assistance: Telephone Services

Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has assessed the merits of providing telephone legal advice on certain family law matters in order to divert individuals away from the courts to alternative routes such as mediation. [42830]

Mr Djanogly: The existing Community Legal Advice (CLA) helpline provides specialist telephone legal advice to clients eligible for legal aid regarding family issues. The service offers information about non-court based options for resolving problems, including mediation, where this is appropriate for the client and their case.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 405W

In addition, the initial operator service of the CLA helpline provides general information about non-court options to callers in certain specific circumstances or where it is requested.

The Legal Services Commission and the Ministry of Justice are currently assessing the merits of providing more specific information about mediation services through the CLA helpline for people eligible for legal aid and also for those who are ineligible.

Legal Aid

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the compliance with competition legislation of existing arrangements for awarding publicly-funded legal services. [42915]

Mr Djanogly: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is responsible for the processes for the award of new legal aid contracts. The LSC department responsible for commissioning legal services includes staff trained in procurement procedure and qualified with the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. The LSC also has a commercial law team who provide advice on legislation relevant to public procurement, and takes external legal advice in relation to tender processes.

Legal Aid: Wales

Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effects on recipients of legal aid in Wales of his proposals for legal aid. [42210]

Mr Djanogly: The potential impacts of the reform proposals are detailed in the impact assessments that accompanied the publication of the consultation paper. Impacts on clients in England and Wales are considered collectively.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made on the review of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; and if he will make a statement. [42832]

Mr Blunt: We are conducting an assessment of sentencing and rehabilitation policies, and this includes the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. We have published our proposals for reform of this Act in a Green Paper, ‘Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders’. The consultation period for this Green Paper ends on 4 March 2011. Following this, the Government intend to take forward any agreed proposals in due course.

Prison Service Gold Command

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions the Prison Service Gold Command has been opened in each of the last 12 months; what the nature was of each incident that caused it to be opened; and if he will make a statement. [42786]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 406W

Mr Blunt: The Prison Service Gold Command suite was opened on a total number of 31 occasions during the 12 month period to 31 December 2010. The following table shows the nature of each serious incident as defined by restricted Prison Service Order 1400—Incident Management Manual:

Prison Service Gold Command Suite Openings 2010
Date Serious incident categories Number

January 2010

Barricade

2

 

Hostage

 
     

February 2010

Concerted Indiscipline

1

     

March 2010

Concerted Indiscipline

1

     

April 2010

Incident at Height x2

4

 

Concerted Indiscipline x2

 
     

May 2010

Incident at Height

1

     

June 2010

Concerted Indiscipline/Hostage

1

     

July 2010

Concerted Indiscipline at Height

3

 

Hostage

 
 

Concerted Indiscipline

 
     

August 2010

Concerted Indiscipline

1

     

September 2010

Hostage

2

 

Hostage—Collusion

 
     

October 2010

Hostage x2

4

 

Concerted Indiscipline at Height

 
 

Concerted Indiscipline

 
     

November 2010

Concerted Indiscipline x5

7

 

Barricade

 
 

Hostage

 
     

December 2010

Concerted Indiscipline x3

4

 

Barricade/Hostage

 

Total

 

31

Prison Service: Operation Tornado

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the cost to the Prison Service was of the deployment of staff on Operation Tornado in each of the last five years; [42782]

(2) how many Tornado (a) units and (b) teams there are at each prison establishment; how many such teams there were at each prison establishment; and if he will make a statement; [42783]

(3) on how many occasions the Prison Service has been required to deploy staff under Operation Tornado in each of the last 10 years; [42784]

(4) on how many occasions the Prison Service has been required to deploy staff under Operation Tornado in each of the last 12 months. [42785]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 407W

Mr Blunt: Any serious incident in a prison, immigration removal centre or secure training centre may require the reinforcement of additional staff and resources to assist in its resolution. They can draw upon national plans to ensure the deployment of support and mutual aid, outlined in restricted Prison Service Order 1400—Incident Management Manual. These arrangements are referred to as ‘Operation Tornado’. Central records are available from January 2008 and in the period until 31 December 2010 the total number of deployments, as follows, was 33.

2008: 12

2009: 6

2010: 15

In the 12-month period until 31 December 2010 Prison Service resources providing mutual aid under Operation Tornado were deployed as follows:

2010 Number

January

0

February

1

March

0

April

2

May

0

June

1

July

1

August

1

September

0

October

2

November

5

December

2

Total

15

Note: These data include deployments to immigration removal centres under the management of UKBA.

It is not appropriate to provide the information relating to the specific resource of commitments allocated to each prison, or region. The information is operationally sensitive and its publication could undermine the maintenance of security and good order in prisons, or in other institutions where persons are lawfully detained.

Each prison governor has the delegated authority for ensuring their prison can deliver the required mutual aid staffing commitments within local budgets. In order to provide the information relating to the national cost of deploying mutual aid, we would need to contact all Prison Service establishments, ask them to check their local records and to submit this information to headquarters. This would incur disproportionate cost.

Prison Service: Training

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department spent on training prison officers on human rights and diversity-related matters in each of the last three years. [42932]

Mr Blunt: The specific costs of training prison officers in human rights and diversity-related matters cannot be identified because these subjects are integrated into all training programmes.

Prisoners

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the prison population was in each week since May 2010. [42966]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 408W

Mr Blunt: The prison population in each week since May 2010 is set out in the following table. This information is published weekly on the HMPS website at:

http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/resourcecentre/publicationsdocuments/index.asp?cat=85

These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Date Population

2010

 

7 May

84,982

14 May

85,009

21 May

85,201

28 May

85,147

4 June

85,096

11 June

85,056

18 June

85,085

25 June

84,966

2 July

85,074

9 July

85,097

16 July

85,117

23 July

85,182

30 July

85,009

6 August

85,115

13 August

85,123

20 August

85,091

27 August

85,111

3 September

84,955

10 September

85,027

17 September

85,192

24 September

85,368

1 October

85,495

8 October

85,325

15 October

85,276

22 October

85,228

29 October

85,159

5 November

85,269

12 November

85,274

19 November

85,393

26 November

85,454

3 December

85,227

10 December

84,896

17 December

84,548

24 December

83,701

31 December

83,055

   

2011

 

7 January

82,991

14 January

83,305

21 January

83,780

28 January

84,145

4 February

84,469

11 February

84,785

18 February

85,072

Prisoners: Employment

Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to support post-release employment for prisoners in order to reduce recidivism. [42834]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 409W

Mr Blunt: We are working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which is launching a new approach to improving employment outcomes based on payment by results. The Green Paper “Breaking the Cycle: Effective Punishment, Rehabilitation and Sentencing of Offenders” published on 7 December has set out the intention to incentivise Work programme providers to support post-release employment for unemployed offenders, linked to reducing reoffending, and also to engage more employers to train and recruit offenders.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what category of crimes each foreign national prisoner serving a custodial sentence in England and Wales was convicted. [42967]

Mr Blunt: The number of foreign national prisoners serving an immediate custodial sentence (including recalls), by offence group, as at 31 December 2010 is shown in the following table.

Offence group Number of foreign n ationals

Burglary

262

Drug offences

1,937

Fraud and forgery

520

Motoring offences

130

Offence not recorded

37

Other offences

874

Robbery

685

Sexual offences

1,037

Theft and handling

452

Violence against the person

1,749

Total

7,683

These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Mental Illness

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent estimate is of the number of prisoners with a personality disorder. [41524]

Mr Blunt: Personality disorders are common conditions, with differing levels of severity. It is estimated that approximately two-thirds of prisoners, including sentenced and remand prisoners totalling approximately 57,000, would meet the criteria for at least one type of personality disorder. For a relatively small number of offenders, in its most severe forms, personality disorder is linked to a serious risk of harm to themselves and to others. These offenders have highly complex psychological needs that create challenges for staff in terms of management, treatment and maintaining a safe working environment.

The national health service and National Offender Management Service plan to reconfigure existing services in secure and community settings to manage high risk, sexual or violent offenders whose offending is linked to severe forms of personality disorder. The implementation plan for these changes is subject to a separate consultation by the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice launched on 17 February.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 410W

Prisoners: Repatriation

Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress his Department has made on increasing the number of prisoner transfer agreements. [37350]

Mr Kenneth Clarke: It is the Government’s policy to extend or negotiate new prisoner transfer agreements (PTAs) with as many countries as possible. PTAs provide one part of the solution to achieving our objectives of significantly reducing the foreign prisoner population in UK detention and so the burden on the UK taxpayer. In line with our normal practice, wherever possible we seek to negotiate PTAs that do not require prisoners to consent to transfer.

In consultation with the FCO, we have reviewed our global policy for the negotiation of new or amended prisoner transfer agreements. This policy reflects both the need to secure agreements with those countries that have the largest nationality groups serving sentences in UK prisons; and those where British nationals are imprisoned abroad, in particular where we have concerns about their welfare. We also seek to take advantage of opportunities where another country is seeking a PTA with the UK: even if the total number of prisoners from that country serving sentences here is small and there is no pressing consular need. Finally, agreement in one country can create momentum for approval in a neighbouring state. We therefore may work on a regional basis if a dynamic allows for progress.

The UK currently has prisoner transfer arrangements with over 100 countries and territories. A prisoner transfer agreement with Rwanda was ratified on 23 November 2010 and in addition to Nigeria, negotiations have begun with other countries including Jamaica, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in line with the policy above. Preparations are under way for the implementation of the EU prisoner transfer agreement which enters into force in December 2011.

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign prisoners of each nationality were repatriated in (a) January and (b) February 2011. [42548]

Mr Blunt: The information requested is set out as follows:

Prisoners repatriated from England and Wales in January and February 2011
Country to which transfer took place January 2011 February 2011 (up to 25 February)

Bermuda

1

The Netherlands

2

1

Portugal

1

The repatriation of prisoners to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the appropriate Ministers in the relevant devolved Administration.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many prisoners in UK prisons who were transferred to the UK under prisoner transfer agreements following convictions abroad were (a) released early, (b) released early under the home detention curfew scheme and (c) released early under exceptional circumstances through the home detention curfew scheme in each of the last five years; [42925]

(2) how many prisoners were transferred to UK prisons from each country of origin under prisoner transfer agreements in each of the last five years. [42926]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 411W

Mr Blunt: Prisoners convicted and sentenced abroad who are transferred to prisons in England and Wales to serve the remainder of their sentences are released in accordance with the applicable law governing release in England and Wales. Prisoners are released on their statutory release date unless they are released early, where applicable, on parole, under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme, or early on compassionate or other grounds. Information on the release dates of transferred prisoners is not recorded separately and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The number of prisoners transferred to England and Wales in each of the last four years and the countries from which they were transferred is given in the following table. Prior to 2007, the countries from which prisoners were transferred were not separately recorded.

Prisoners transferred to England and Wales 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2010
Country 2007 2008 2009 2010

Austria

1

Australia

3

1

1

Belgium

1

1

Brazil

1

2

Costa Rica

2

2

1

Cyprus

2

2

5

5

Ecuador

1

France

1

4

Germany

1

2

2

1

Ghana

2

3

Grenada

1

3

Hong Kong

2

2

2

India

2

1

Japan

7

8

3

3

Laos

1

1

Luxembourg

1

Mexico

2

Morocco

1

1

Netherlands

6

1

Norway

1

1

Panama

1

1

Portugal

2

1

Republic of Ireland

9

2

8

14

Romania

1

Slovakia

1

Spain

12

10

17

22

South Korea

1

Sweden

2

2

2

Switzerland

1

Thailand

4

1

4

4

Trinidad and Tobago

6

2

2

8

Turkey

2

USA

10

8

4

5

Venezuela

2

6

2

Total

68

55

64

89

The transfer of prisoners to Scotland and Northern Ireland is a devolved subject and is a matter for the appropriate Ministers in the relevant devolved Administration.

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the prisoner transfer agreements in respect of the transfer of (a) Michael Binnington and (b) Luke Atkinson from Cyprus to Britain; and what the conditions were of each such transfer; [42927]

1 Mar 2011 : Column 412W

(2) what representations he has received from the Cypriot authorities on the early release of (a) Michael Binnington and (b) Luke Atkinson. [42928]

Mr Blunt: It would not be appropriate to place in the Library of the House information relating to the transfer of named individuals as the answer contains personal information. I will communicate privately with the hon. Member about this issue. However, I can confirm that the Cypriot authorities have not made any representations about the early release of Michael Binnington and Luke Atkinson.

Prisons: Asbestos

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 796W, on prisons: asbestos, (1) whether, on 31 December 2010, there remained asbestos in the fabric of the buildings at HM Prison Ford following the comprehensive survey of the estate on 2002-03 and the subsequent programme to remove asbestos that was implemented following the review; [42903]

(2) in which prisons the 2002-03 comprehensive survey of the estate identified the presence of low-risk asbestos which was not removed following this review; [42904]

(3) in which prison establishments the 2002-03 comprehensive survey of the estate identified the presence of high-risk asbestos; and when the subsequent programme to remove the asbestos was completed at each establishment; [42905]

(4) whether any planned work programme to remove the asbestos from prison establishments has been (a) postponed, (b) cancelled or (c) delayed; [42906]

(5) what plans were put in place following the 2002-03 comprehensive survey of the prison estate for the removal of low-risk asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [42909]

Mr Blunt: Asbestos was identified in all prisons following a comprehensive survey in 2002-03. Asbestos is still permitted by the Health and Safety Executive in some construction and building activities as there is currently no satisfactory alternative. In prisons it is still used in the gaskets to mechanical systems, but poses a low risk.

Following the survey in 2002-03 it was not necessary to remove all identified occurrences of asbestos. However, a programme of removal of high-risk asbestos at the prisons detailed in the following list was implemented by local works managers under the supervision of the regional estates manager. This was completed in 2005 at a cost of around £1.4 million. We are not aware of any significant delay or cancellation in this programme to remove asbestos from prisons.

Aylesbury

Bedford

Belmarsh

Brockhill

Canterbury

Cardiff

Dartmoor

Deerbolt

Drake Hall

Gartree

Grendon/Spring Hill

1 Mar 2011 : Column 413W

Guys Marsh

Hewell Grange

Highdown

Hindley

Kirkham

Leicester

Lewes

Lincoln

Long Lartin

Nottingham

Parkhurst and Camp Hill (now part of Isle of Wight prison)

Pentonville

Reading

Shrewsbury

Stafford

Styal

Swansea

Usk/Prescoed

Wellingborough

Winchester

Asbestos identified at Ford was assessed as being low risk and was being managed locally but was not removed as part of the above programme. It was present in the prison on the evening of 31 December 2010.

Following the survey in 2002-03, a comprehensive management plan was put into place, which ensured that every prison holds an electronic register of asbestos. A national training initiative was set up through the Prison Service College to deliver asbestos awareness training for those identified as requiring it and asbestos management training for works site managers.

Prison Service Order 5901, ‘Maintenance of Prison Service Buildings’, requires asbestos to be re-inspected and photographed at a time indicated by a risk assessment and at least once every year. Any disturbance or deterioration of the asbestos must be reflected in the reviewed risk assessments. If the asbestos is identified as posing an unacceptably increased risk, a proposal for its removal should be submitted as part of the prison’s maintenance strategy. Asbestos judged as being low-risk will not be routinely removed, as disturbing it may put staff at greater danger than if it were to be left in situ.

Prisons: Closures

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the amount it will receive from the disposal of Lancaster Castle prison and Ashwell prison. [42849]

Mr Blunt: Lancaster Castle prison is leased from the Duchy of Lancaster. Following the prison's closure it will be returned to the Duchy and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will therefore not receive any payment.

1 Mar 2011 : Column 414W

Discussions about the disposal of Ashwell prison are still in their early stages and it is too soon to say what the MoJ expects to receive in respect of the sale. The land and any property on the site will be placed on the open market for offers with a view to obtaining best value from the sale.

Prisons: Construction

Mr Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) prisons and (b) detention centres in Britain he estimates will be built using prefabricated or flatpack buildings in 2010-11. [42716]

Mr Blunt: One new prison in England and Wales, Isis, has been built using prefabricated buildings in 2010-11. Additional accommodation has also been constructed using this method at Littlehey prison and young offender institution during the period specified. Information about prisons in Northern Ireland and Scotland is respectively the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish Government. No detention centres (i.e. immigration removal centres or secure training centres) in Britain have been built in this way.

Prisons: Furniture

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many new (a) beds and (b) mattresses were purchased for use by prisoners in each of the last three years; and what the cost was of such purchases in each such year; [42929]

(2) what the average cost was of providing a (a) bed and (b) mattress for each prisoner held in a (i) public prison and (ii) privately-run prison in the last period for which figures are available; [42930]

(3) how long a (a) bed and (b) mattress is issued for use by prisoners before it is due to be replaced. [42931]

Mr Blunt: The following table shows the quantity of beds and mattresses purchased for use by prisoners in each of the last three years. The beds are manufactured by prisoners through the prison industries operation. The table references the cost of such purchases in each of the last three years. Using an average of 85,000 prisoner places, the average cost of providing a bed is approximately £8 per annum and the average cost of providing a mattress is approximately £24 per annum.

The Ministry of Justice is unable to provide figures for the private prisons as they source these items directly by themselves. The 2008-09 procurement initiative to introduce the “Zero Waste Wipe Clean Mattress and Pillow Solution” has increased the life span of a mattress to an average of 22 months. It has also reduced the cost and environmental impact of disposing of the mattress. This contract is for the supply, collection and recycling of highly flame retardant, robust wipe-clean prison mattresses and pillows.

Mattress and bed order quantity and value for 2008-10 (calendar years)
    2008 2009 2010 Last three years
Item Description Quantity Value (£) Quantity Value (£) Quantity Value (£) Total quantity Total value (£)

0435

Mattress, F/R Foam, STD 1.9m long

41,357

1,794,066.66

39,074

1,695,030.12

38,277

1,660,456.26

118,708

5,149,553.04

1 Mar 2011 : Column 415W

1 Mar 2011 : Column 416W

0436

Mattress F/R Foam, 7 feet, 2.2m long

799

43,026.15

952

51,265.20

550

29,617.50

2,301

43,026.15

0437

Mattress Hospital, F/R Foam

180

10,054.80

234

13,071.24

153

8,546.58

567

10,054.80

0438

Mattress Narrow, F/R Foam 1.9m long

3,395

156,815.05

4,190

193,536.10

5,955

275,061.45

13,540

156,815.05

Sub-total

 

45,731.00

2,003,962.66

44,450.00

1,952,902.66

44,935.00

1,973,681.79

135,116.00

5,359,449.04

                   

2078

Bed Head, Cream

1,650

32,026.50

1,739

33,753.99

1,330

25,815.30

4,719

32,026.50

2081

Bed Foot, Cream

1,860

23,529.00

1,757

22,226.05

1,028

13,004.20

4,645

23,529.00

2084

Bed Base 6 Cream

2,347

102,235.32

2,236

97,400.16

2,153

93,784.68

6,736

102,235.32

2089

Bed Base 7 Cream

163

7,167.11

172

7,562.84

194

8,530.18

529

7,167.11

34017

Bed Single WWF

1,871

419,272.39

3,031

679,216.79

752

168,515.68

5,654

1,267,004.86

34025

Bunk Bed Mk2 WWF

1

100.97

828

83,603.16

527

53,211.13

1,356

136,915.32

Sub-total

 

7,892.00

584,331.29

9,763.00

923,762S9

5,984.00

362,861.23

23,639.00

1,568,878.11