Travel: Costs
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage change in real terms of the cost to the traveller of travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) domestic aeroplane since (i) 1980, (ii) 1997 and (iii) 2010. [201766]
Mr Goodwill: The Department for Transport published statistics on travel costs based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the Transport Statistics Great Britain compendium.
Data from the independent ONS suggests that:
(i) Between 1980 and 2013 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 12%, bus and coach fares increased by 59% and rail fares increased by 62% in real terms.
(ii) Between 1997 and 2013 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 9%, bus and coach fares increased by 28% and rail fares increased by 22% in real terms.
(iii) Between 2010 and 2013 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, decreased by 2%, bus and coach fares increased by 3% and rail fares increased by 5% in real terms.
(iv) The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS data. However information is available based on fare data from the Civil Aviation Authority. The real cost of the average UK one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic flights from 2000 to 2013 declined by 43% and from 2010 to 2013 declined by 3%. Estimates are not available on a comparable basis before 2000.
West Coast Railway Line
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether West Coast Trains (WCT) Ltd and Network Rail will be required to issue a memorandum of understanding before undertaking any of the infrastructure upgrade work outlined in the new franchise directly awarded to WCT Ltd. [201679]
Stephen Hammond: This is a matter for West Coast Trains Limited and Network Rail.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to Network Rail of fitting the track side infrastructure required to provide free wi-fi access for passengers on the west coast main line. [201680]
Stephen Hammond: Network Rail is leading on the infrastructure work to enable the introduction of on-board 4G wi-fi on Virgin Trains. This project is currently being developed further and Network Rail may be able to advise on the current estimate of the cost of installing the track side infrastructure required.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to the public purse has been of negotiations with train operating companies for franchised rail passenger services on the west coast main line. [201681]
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Stephen Hammond: It is estimated that the Intercity West Coast Direct Award project will spend a total of £697,034 on external legal, technical and financial advisers. In addition to the core Department for Transport project team, officials from teams across the Rail Executive and Department have contributed to the project. No assessment has been made for internal departmental staff costs.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what his policy is on open access operations on the West Coast Main Line during the term of the new directly awarded franchise with West Coast Trains Ltd; [201682]
(2) what his policy is towards open access operations on the West Coast Main Line during the term of the directly awarded franchise with West Coast Trains Ltd for rail passenger services on that line. [201803]
Stephen Hammond: Open access operators have helped to provide innovative services for passengers and grow new rail markets—often generating excellent passenger satisfaction scores. The additional competitive pressure generated by open access operators can also help improve the experience of passengers of franchised services.
These beneficial impacts must be balanced against the potential to abstract passenger revenue from franchised operators. This abstraction primarily manifests itself as a cost to Government in the form of diminished value of the franchises when they are tendered.
To mitigate this problem, the Office of Rail Regulation ("ORR") applies the "not primarily abstractive test", which aims to ensure that applicants for open access routes will generate at least 30p of new revenue for every £1 of existing revenue abstracted from franchised operators. The ORR considers that if the open access operator generates any less new revenue, the benefits of their operation would not outweigh the costs. Our policy is to support the application of the not primarily abstractive test when open access applications are assessed.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many carriages in Virgin West Coast's nine-car Pendolino fleet will be re-configured to create more standard class passenger seats under the terms of the new rail franchise agreement; and where such re-configuration work will be carried out. [201683]
Stephen Hammond: Twenty one of the Pendolino fleet will be refurbished to convert the first class coach G in each of the 9 car Class 390 to standard class. The location of the refurbishment works has not been determined.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there is in the daily number of passenger seats in standard class on West Coast Main Line passenger services during the term of the franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd. [201684]
Stephen Hammond: The Direct Award to West Coast Trains Limited will see an increase of 5,500 standard class seats per day during the term of the franchise.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulatory oversight from which body there will be of the planned rail infrastructure alliance between Network Rail and West Coast Trains Ltd. [201728]
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Stephen Hammond: The alliance between Network Rail and West Coast Trains Limited will involve closer working and collaboration rather than an infrastructure alliance. Regulation of Network Rail is a matter for the Office of Rail Regulation.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Rail Delivery Group has discussed the infrastructure alliance planned between West Coast Trains (WCT) Ltd and Network Rail as part of the franchise directly awarded to WCT Ltd on 19 June 2014. [201735]
Stephen Hammond: I am not aware of any discussions at the Rail Delivery Group on an “infrastructure alliance” between West Coast Trains Limited and Network Rail.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect of the specifications in the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd on 19 June 2014 on levels of (a) on-train, (b) station and (c) ticket office staffing; and what discussions on the franchise specifications (i) his Department and (ii) Virgin Trains has had with trades unions representing staff working on the West Coast Main Line. [201757]
Stephen Hammond: Staffing levels are a commercial matter for Virgin Trains. The Department has not engaged with trade unions representing staff working on the West Coast Main Line regarding the franchise specification of the recent direct award to West Coast Trains Limited.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new (a) ticket machines and (b) automatic barriers will be introduced at stations on the West Coast Main Line under the terms of the franchise for rail passenger services directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd; and in which stations they will be installed. [201758]
Stephen Hammond: Under the terms of the Direct Award to West Coast Trains Limited (a) 41 ticket vending machines will be installed across stations West Coast Trains Limited serve; and (b) 200 automatic ticket gates will be installed across stations West Coast Trains serve, prioritising routes between Euston and Birmingham and Euston and Manchester.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the estimated level of (a) public subsidy, (b) premium payments, (c) Network Grant and (d) revenue support will be during the term of the franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd for rail passenger services on the West Coast Main Line. [201759]
Stephen Hammond: The Direct Award to West Coast Trains Limited contains contracted premium payments of approximately £433 million. No revenue support or public subsidy is included in the franchise. Network Grant is not allocated on the basis of individual franchises so it is not possible to estimate this figure.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the level of punctuality for passenger rail services (a) operated by Virgin on the West Coast Main Line and (b) on average across all lines was in each year since 1996-97. [201760]
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Stephen Hammond: The information is as follows.
| Public performance measure (PPM) moving annual average (MAA) figures at year end; 1997-98 to 2013-14: Virgin West Coast (VWC) & National | ||
| Percentage | ||
| VWC | National | |
| Source: Figures are taken from periodically-produced Network Rail PPM data | ||
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's targets for (a) punctuality, (b) passenger satisfaction and (c) cleanliness are in the rail passenger franchise awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd; when he expects these targets to be introduced on the franchise; and who will be responsible for regulating the franchisee's performance against each such target. [201761]
Stephen Hammond: The agreed targets are contained within the Franchise Agreement between West Coast Trains Limited and the Secretary of State for Transport, which will be published in due course. The contract will be managed and enforced by officials in the Department for Transport.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what total financial support from the public purse will be given to West Coast Trains Ltd for the duration of the directly awarded passenger rail franchise announced on 19 June 2014; and what the deadline is for exercising the optional one-year franchise extension from April 2017 to April 2018. [201762]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport has contracted a premium payable to Government of £433 million over the course of the directly awarded passenger rail franchise to West Coast Trains Ltd. In addition, the contract includes a provision which will trigger higher premiums to Government if GDP growth is higher than forecast and lower premiums if GDP growth is lower than forecast (subject to minimum levels of movements in GDP from forecast). Notice must be provided to West Coast Trains Ltd no later than 31 December 2016 of any intention to exercise the up to one year franchise extension.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department were involved in the negotiations with Virgin for the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd. [201763]
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Stephen Hammond: The core InterCity West Coast Direct Award team numbered four officials, some of whom spent part of their time on other projects. The core team was supported by finance, legal, technical and economic specialists and received input from officials across the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive and wider Department where appropriate.
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which external consultants were involved in the negotiations with Virgin for the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd; and what the cost to his Department was of each such consultancy. [201764]
Stephen Hammond: The Department for Transport ran a procurement for legal, technical and financial advisers for the InterCity West Coast Direct Award project. The advisers contracted, and the estimated fees to be paid for the work on the project, are shown as follows:
| Adviser | Estimated fees (£) |
Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials in his Department were involved in the design of the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to West Coast Trains Ltd. [201765]
Stephen Hammond: The core InterCity West Coast Direct Award team numbered four officials, some of whom spent part of their time on other projects. The core team was supported by finance, legal, technical and economic specialists and received input from officials across the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive and wider Department where appropriate.
Home Department
Alexander Litvinenko
Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to conclude her consideration of the Coroner's ruling in the case of Alexander Litvinenko; and if she will make a statement. [201276]
Karen Bradley: The Secretary of State for the Home Department is giving fresh consideration to the exercise of her discretion to establish an inquiry following the Court of Appeal’s judgment of 14 February 2014 relating to Mr. Litvinenko. Once this is concluded, a statement will be made. In the meantime, the Government continue to co-operate fully with the inquest into Mr Litvinenko’s death.
Animal Experiments: Dogs
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account her Department takes of the level of distress caused to four week old puppies by separating them from their mothers in formulating policy on animal experimentation. [201640]
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Norman Baker: Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, any procedures applied to animals for a scientific purpose which may cause pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm require licence authorities. For a project to be authorised, it must be assessed by a Home Office inspector and a harm-benefit analysis performed.
The harm-benefit analysis considers the likely harms which may be experienced by the animals as a consequence of the project, and compares these with the benefits which may result and the likelihood of their delivery. A judgement is made as to whether the likely harms are justified by the likely benefits.
The normally recommended age for separating puppies from their mothers is about eight weeks. Therefore, a requirement for puppies to be separated from their mothers at four weeks of age for a scientific purpose would be deemed to require project licence authority. In such cases, Home Office Inspectors take into account the distress caused to young puppies by such early separation as part of the harm-benefit analysis.
Asylum: Syria
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Syrian people have been resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme since its launch; and what assessment she has made of the contribution made by (a) the UK and (b) other European countries to the UN goal for 30,000 Syrian refugees to be admitted to other countries by the end of 2014. [201402]
Karen Bradley: To date 50 refugees have arrived in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme (VPR). We will continue to bring groups here on a regular basis, and envisage that several hundred people will be helped over the next three years. The VPR scheme does not form part of the UN quota but runs in parallel with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees' (UNHCR) own Syria Humanitarian Admission Programme. The Government have been clear that this is a crisis of international proportions and needs a fitting response from the international community. The UNHCR is best placed to comment on the policies of other countries regarding Syrian refugees. With 2.9 million refugees now in Syria’s neighbouring countries, we continue to believe that prioritising humanitarian aid is the best way to ensure that the UK’s help has the greatest impact.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many refugees from Syria are expected to enter the UK under the vulnerable person relocation scheme by 1 May 2015; [201923]
(2) how many refugees from Syria were accepted under the vulnerable person relocation scheme between 29 January 2014 and 23 June 2014. [201921]
Karen Bradley: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 24 June 2014, Official Report, column 127W.
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Belfast International Airport
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment officials in her Department have made of the feasibility of establishing US immigration, customs and agricultural pre-clearance at Belfast International Airport. [202092]
Karen Bradley: Officials have made no such assessment, but would do so if this were requested by Belfast International Airport.
Civil Disorder: Birmingham
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of lessons to be learned from the police offer of immunity to witnesses in the case involving the deaths of Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali and Abdul Musavir in Birmingham during the civil disturbances in that city in 2011. [201665]
Damian Green: On 7 May 2014 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) announced its findings in regard to Operation Pointer, an independent investigation into the conduct of two West Midlands police officers relating to the triple murder trial arising from rioting in Birmingham in August 2011. The IPCC's conclusions are deeply troubling-it is clear that the professional standards expected of all police officers were not met in this individual case. We expect West Midlands police to act upon the report and improve its systems and procedures.
Entry Clearances: Married People
Mr Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what monitoring her Department carries out on the amount of time taken by its contractor companies to carry out the required checks on people applying for spouse visas to the UK; [202403]
(2) what guidance her Department issues to companies which carry out the required checks on individuals applying for spouse visas on the appropriate amount of time for those checks to be completed. [202404]
Karen Bradley: The Department does not contract with any companies to carry out checks on people applying for spouse visas.
HM Passport Office
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) the chief executive of HM Passport Office (HMPO) last met staff representatives of HMPO. [200103]
James Brokenshire: The views of staff representatives are communicated to Ministers through the HM Passport Office chief executive.
The chief executive holds regular fora and other meetings with staff at HM Passport Office premises.
Durham on 12 February 2014;
Liverpool on 14 March;
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Southport on 30 April;
Belfast on 9 May; and
Newport on 16 May.
The chief executive also met local public and commercial services union representatives in those offices on those dates.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of overtime in HM Passport Office has been in each month since January 2013. [200160]
James Brokenshire: Overtime costs in HM Passport Office in each month since January 2013 are as follows:
| £ | |
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definition is used by HM Passport Office of a straightforward application for passports for the purpose of setting internal targets; and if this definition has been amended since 2010. [201301]
James Brokenshire: A straightforward application is one where all the required information, including supporting documentation, is provided, the application is signed and no further inquiries are required in order to progress the application.
HM Passport Office: Belfast
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed in the Passport Office in Belfast in each of the last five years. [200956]
James Brokenshire: The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed in the Belfast Passport Office in each of the last five years.
| March 2010 | March 2011 | March 2012 | March 2013 | March 2014 | |
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HM Passport Office: Glasgow
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of changes in the number of staff in the Glasgow Passport Office since 2008 on the speed of the processing of applications for passports by that office. [201356]
James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office does not consider that changes in its office in Glasgow have had any impact on the speed of processing applications for passports.
Human Trafficking
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 441W, on human trafficking: Albania, how much funding has been made available by (a) the Home Office and (b) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to establish the International Organisation Migration voluntary return package; and if she will make a statement. [202547]
Karen Bradley: In November 2013, the UK Government and the Albanian Government, working with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), established a voluntary return package for female victims of trafficking who wished to return to Albania. This package includes the provision of secure accommodation in Albania (with guards and social services on site), child care assistance where required, and training or support to establish a business or enter the labour market. This provides the support and assistance required for victims who wish to return to Albania to rebuild their lives.
The IOM package is funded by the Returns and Reintegration Fund. This is a cross-governmental programme, to which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department for International Development, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice contribute resources.
The IOM package is funded to the value of £138,000 over an 18-month period, commencing in November 2013.
Immigration
Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the Exchequer of the asylum and immigration system once fee income has been deducted has been in each of the last seven years. [202386]
Karen Bradley: Because of several restructures over the past seven years this information is not available in line with the question posed. Published accounts for the former UK Border Agency break down income and expenditure information since 2009 and further information is available in the Home Office Report and Accounts for 2013-14.
These can be accessed from the following links:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321446/ARA_web_enabled_18_June.pdf
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Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which completed reports from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration have been submitted for publication but had not yet been published on 17 June 2014; and what the (a) date of submission and (b) date she expects to publish the report is in each case. [201384]
Karen Bradley: The Secretary of State for the Home Department laid two reports before Parliament on 19 June 2014, that had been supplied by the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration pursuant to sections 50 (2) and 50 (3) of the UK Borders Act 2007:
An unannounced inspection of the service provided by Glasgow Public Enquiry Office, ID 13061402 06/14.
The rights of European Citizens and their spouses to come to the UK: inspecting the application process and the tackling of abuse, ID 2634429 04/14.
Four further reports have been supplied by the chief inspector that will be published shortly.
Interception Warrants
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many interception warrants were (a) issued, (b) declined and (c) cancelled by her Department under (i) section 8(1) and (ii) section 8(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in the last six months for which figures are available. [201671]
Karen Bradley: The Interception of Communications Commissioner, Sir Anthony May, publishes statistics on the total number of interception warrants authorised annually. His 2013 annual report states that 2,760 interception warrants were authorised in 2013 (under both sections 8(1) and 8(4) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000), a reduction of 19% on the same figure for 2012, and that 1,669 such warrants were extant on 31 December 2013. As a matter of long-standing practice, we do not provide more detailed breakdowns of statistics relating to interception warrants.
Mariam Ibrahim
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will offer asylum to Mariam Ibrahim. [201658]
Karen Bradley: The UK has a proud record of offering sanctuary to those who need it. Each claim for asylum is carefully considered and where we find individuals are in need of our protection, asylum is given. However, to be eligible for international protection, a person must be located outside of their country of origin.
Nitrous Oxide: Sales
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what actions she is taking to restrict sales of nitrous oxide (a) at festivals and nightclubs and (b) through the internet; [201545]
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(2) if she will review the definition of butane product in the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999. [201478]
Norman Baker: The Government have no plans to review the definition of butane in the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999.
We recently wrote to all summer festival organisers to highlight concerns we have about the availability of gases such as nitrous oxide at festivals and asked them to take steps to prevent the sale of these gases. We have received a number of positive responses to this request.
Nitrous oxide has a number of legitimate medical and industrial uses, but any suggestion of misuse, particularly by young people is of concern. It is currently an offence to sell any gas for the purpose of causing intoxication to anyone under the age of 18, including over the internet, under the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985.
NSPCC
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings have taken place since the beginning of 2014 between departmental officials and the NSPCC; who attended such meetings; what the purpose was of such meetings; and if she will make a statement. [201397]
Norman Baker: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website which is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality-oct-2012-to-dec-2012
Offences against Children
Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are assigned to (a) Operation Fernbridge and (b) any subsequent related investigations. [201751]
Damian Green: This is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Offences against Children: Internet
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2014, Official Report, column 667W, on offences against children: internet, to which police forces intelligence packages were disseminated; and how many such packages were sent to each such force. [201832]
Damian Green: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19 June 2014, Official Report, columns 666-67W.
The information requested is operational and cannot be released because of the possibility that there are related investigations or judicial processes ongoing.
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Passports
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passport (a) applications and (b) renewal applications were received by the Passport Office in each (i) month and (ii) year of the last five years. [199406][Official Report, 1 September 2014, Vol. 585, c. 10-12MC.]
James Brokenshire: The following table provides the requested information.
| Applications for passports and renewals 2010 to May 2014 | ||
| Number of passport renewals | Total number of applications | |
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Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to address the current backlog of applications within the Passport Office. [199407]
James Brokenshire: On 12 June, the Secretary of State for the Home Department set out to the House the measures HM Passport Office is putting in place to respond to the exceptional current levels of passport demand.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 12 June 2014, Official Report, columns 693-94 for details.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the issuing of passports; and if she will make a statement. [199677]
James Brokenshire: Numerous representations have been made both about the general passport issuing process as well as on behalf of individual applicants. They have been received from Members of Parliament and the public. Those with concerns about imminent travel plans for individuals will be prioritised. All will receive a reply. On 12 June the Secretary of State for the Home Department made a statement in the House where she announced the arrangements we are putting in place to deal with the current level of demand for passports.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of passport applications have been processed under the expedited service in each month since June 2010. [199970]
James Brokenshire: The table below shows the proportion of passport applications that were processed under premium or fast-track services since June 2010.
| Proportion of all applications which were processed under premium or fast-track services | |
| Percentage | |
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Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the policy is of the Passport Office on the passing of information on the status of a delayed passport application when dealing with correspondence from an hon. Member acting on behalf of a constituent. [200423]
James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office's policy is to make available the same information to MPs and their constituency secretaries as they would to their constituents. On receipt of correspondence on behalf of a constituent, it is deemed that the constituent has provided authority for their MP to act on their behalf. This applies to written, e-mailed and telephone correspondence.
Mr Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the current anticipated turn-round time for passport processing is for (a) applications from UK residents making new applications, (b) new applications for a child's passport and (c) UK residents applying abroad. [200815]
James Brokenshire: Expected service standards for passport applications are published on:
www.gov.uk
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Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate she has made of the average time period between application and issuing of passports for residents of (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (b) Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each year since 2009; [201268]
(2) what estimate she has made of the number of passports that were issued for residents of (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (b) Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK in each year since 2009. [201271]
James Brokenshire: Her Majesty's Passport Office does not store information at constituency level and the cost of extracting the information requested would be disproportionate. Information on passport processing performance can be found in HMPO's annual report and accounts, which can be accessed via the following links.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118758/annual-report-accounts-200910.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-and-passport-service-annual-report-and-accounts-2010-to-2011
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118751/ips-annual-report-2012.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210619/IPS_annual_report_and_accounts_2012-13.pdf
Passports: Scotland
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account her Department took of the timing of school holidays in Scotland in formulating plans to deal with passport application delays. [201352]
James Brokenshire: Each year Her Majesty's Passport Office plans its capacity, taking into account the likely level of demand during specific periods, including the run-up to school holidays.
Police
Mr Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the Government spend per head of population on police services in (a) Nottinghamshire, (b) the East Midlands and (c) England in each of the last three years. [201781]
Damian Green: The table shows total core Government funding per head of population provided to each police and crime commissioner (previously police authority) in the East Midlands region and to England for each of the last three years.
Core Government funding to the police is distributed using the Police Allocation Formula. The formula takes into account the relative needs of individual police force areas, not regions. A composite figure for the East Midlands region is therefore not shown.
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| Total core Government funding per head of population | |||
| £1, 2 | |||
| 2012-13 | 2013-142 | 2014-153 | |
| 1 Figures are based on total core Government funding which encompasses all formula funding to the police. 2 Population figures are based on the census projections that were used in the Police Allocation Formula to calculate funding allocations in 2012-13 and 2013-14. The population figures for 2014 are based on the latest census projection, as the Police Allocation Formula was not run in 2014-15. 3 The Neighbourhood Policing Fund (NPF) was rolled into Police Main Grant in 2013-14. To assist, the NPF allocations have been included in the 2012-13 figures. 4 The Community Safety Fund (CSF) was rolled into Police Main Grant in 2014-15. To assist comparison, CSF allocations have been included in the 2014-15 figures. Notes: 1. From 2014-15, the Home Office is also paying out council tax freeze grant funding relating to the 2011-12 and 2013-14 schemes and local council tax support (LCTS) funding to PCCs in England. This funding was previously paid to the police by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). This is excluded from the table to assist comparison with previous years. 2. The police in England also receive small amounts of central Government grant from other sources including the DCLG and Ministry of Justice. They also receive funding from the police precept component of council tax. | |||
Police: Hartlepool
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will provide additional funding for Cleveland police to assist in (a) retaining and (b) increasing the number of police officers in operation in Hartlepool constituency. [201205]
Damian Green: Like all parts of the public sector the police must play their part in reducing the deficit and the vast majority of forces are rising to the challenge of reducing costs, maintaining services and cutting crime. Ultimately what matters is how officers are deployed, not how many of them there are and, in Cleveland, police recorded crime has fallen by 14% since 2010.
Police: Recruitment
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a requirement on police forces to ensure that candidates for the role of police constable should have the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing; and whether such candidates have to pay for that certification personally. [202203]
Damian Green: There is no requirement on police forces to ensure that all candidates should have the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing. It is one of a number of routes for entry in to a police force and is designed to increase access and inclusion and to build the profession of policing.
Other routes include a Level 3 qualification, service as a police community support officer (PCSO) or special constable. It is for chief officers to determine the most
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appropriate entry route for their force as they are best placed to determine the skills and capabilities that are most needed locally.
Providers of the Certificate in Knowledge of Policing are approved by the College of Policing and it is a matter for each provider to set a fee. The Skills Funding Agency provides funding for those wishing to undertake this qualification if they are: (i) 18 and under, (ii) 23 and under and this is their first Level 3 qualification, (iii) unemployed or (iv) ex-military personnel.
Those who do not qualify for such funding may be able to access a student loan to cover the cost of the fees, which is not repayable until they are earning £21,000. It would be a matter for the force to decide if they wish to provide any additional support.
Teleperformance
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what sanctions are available if TPContact fails to achieve and maintain high standards of customer service while providing services to her Department; [200686]
(2) what steps her Department takes to ensure that TPContact achieves and maintains high standards of customer service; [200687]
(3) what sanctions have been levied by her Department as a result of TPContact failing to achieve and maintain high standards of customer service while providing services for her Department; [200688]
(4) how many and what proportion of all UK visa applications processed by TPContact in (a) Israel, (b) Russia, (c) South Africa and (d) Ukraine have been subject to delays outside the stated service standards; [200696]
(5) how many and what proportion of all UK visa applications processed by TPContact in all its overseas service centres have been subject to delays outside the stated service standards; [200697]
(6) how many complaints she has received about UK visa applications processed by TPContact in (a) Israel, (b) Russia, (c) South Africa and (d) Ukraine to date; [200698]
(7) how many UK visa applications processed by TPContact in (a) Israel, (b) Russia, (c) South Africa and (d) Ukraine have been withdrawn by the applicant after the service standard for processing time has been missed in the last five years; [200699]
(8) what steps her Department took to ensure that TPContact was prepared for the required increase in capacity at its facilities worldwide to deal with the summer rush of visa applications. [200702]
James Brokenshire: Any failure against the contractual critical service levels may result in deductions against their submitted invoices. In the event of continuous and unacceptable failures the Department has the ability to terminate the contract.
The performance of Teleperformance as with all of our contracts is subject to close Home Office scrutiny. The governance processes include regular meetings at all levels, from local operational teams up to senior official levels, to allow in-depth reviews of performance against the service standards set out in the contract, and to provide an escalation route to resolve any issues that
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may arise. We also expect suppliers to provide continuous improvement in delivery of customer services over the course of the contract, which is also monitored through these processes.
The Department withheld payment of the contractual transitional payment until transition was complete in each country where Teleperformance operates. This has now been has now been approved for payment in countries where visa application centres (VACs) are operational but withheld in locations still to be transitioned. Ongoing contractual payments will be subject to the service credit process outlined above.
The data required to judge performance against contractual service standards is not yet available. We are not aware of any withdrawn applications linked to delays in processing at the identified visa application centres since they took over this service. The Home Office is currently collating data on complaints for the period since Teleperformance commenced operations and it is not available for publication.
UK Visas and Immigration has worked closely with Teleperformance from the point at which contracts were awarded to prepare for live operations, including the summer peak. Annual and monthly application volumes and forecast figures for 2014 were provided to Teleperformance as part of the tender process and local discussions have taken place to determine the number of appointment slots available. Opening hours have been extended and appointment availability has been increased in a number of locations to prepare for the summer period. Where VACs are open every day, the availability of appointment slots is continually monitored, with further measures being taken if appointments are consistently fully booked.
Trespass
Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times a Notice under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 has been used to successfully remove unlawful settlers from an area in each of the last five years. [201691]
Norman Baker: The Home Office does not hold this information. The decision to issue notices under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order (CJPOA) is an operational matter for the police.
UK Visas and Immigration
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an 0300 telephone line is available for people wishing to make enquiries of UK Visas and Immigration. [201295]
Karen Bradley: UK Visas and Immigration offer the following numbers for members of the public wishing to make inquiries.
| Number | Service |
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Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the incorrect 0870 telephone number being given out to applicants seeking advice on their applications with UK Visas and Immigration; and if she will make a statement. [201321]
Karen Bradley: We are aware that some UK Visas and Immigration letters may still contain the 0870 contact number, and this is being addressed. A small number of representations have been received on this matter.
Justice
Doncaster Prison
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Doncaster spent in cells in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which figures are available. [202343]
Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
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. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a
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work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.
Licensing Laws
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted of an offence under Sections 141, 142, 146, 147A and 149 (1, 3 and 4), 151, 152 or 153 of the Licensing Act 2003 in the last 12 months; and how many of those convicted were fined the maximum amount stipulated in that Act for those offences. [201058]
Jeremy Wright: The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of the listed offences related to the Licensing Act 2003, in England and Wales, from 2009 to 2013, alongside the number of offenders given the maximum allowable sentence, can be viewed in the following table:
| Offenders found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the Licensing Act 2003, England and Wales, 2009-131, 2 | ||||||
| Offence description | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
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Life Imprisonment
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders released from one life sentence have been given another life sentence in each of the last 30 years. [201998]
Jeremy Wright: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost through a trawl of individual records of prisoner releases.
National Offender Management Service
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many operational support grade staff employed by the National Offender Management Service on 31 March 2014 were employed on (a) temporary, (b) fixed-term and (c) full-time contracts. [202083]
Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of operational support grade staff that were employed by National Offender Management Service (NOMS) as at the 31 March 2014, broken down by contract type is contained in the following table. The information refers to staff directly employed by NOMS and does not include staff engaged through an agency. A fixed-term contract is the same as a temporary contract.
| Employment type of full-time equivalent (FTE) operational support grades employed in public sector prisons in England and Wales as at 31 March 2014 | |
| Employment type | FTE |
| Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the Department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Totals are formed from unrounded parts prior to rounding. For this reason, totals may not equal the sum of their rounded parts. | |
Newport
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions on potential job losses in Newport took place between his Department, the Home Office and Steria prior to the decision to privatise the Ministry of Justice Shared Services. [202380]
Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice is entering into detailed discussions with Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL) regarding the future delivery of their back office services, with the intention of awarding a contract in August 2014. We expect this to bring increased savings and efficiency in back-office functions, provide further benefits across wider government and offer better value for money to the taxpayer.
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SSCL have stated their intention of providing 12 months job protection for all transferring staff from the point of transfer in October 2014. This means that there will be no compulsory redundancies during this period. No decisions have been made to close buildings and we expect all sites to remain open during this period.
Following the transfer of staff, services and IT, there will be a stabilisation stage during which SSCL will look at how the service is currently delivered. No decisions will be made until SSCL has had the opportunity to fully understand the operation.
We will continue to work with staff, trade unions and other stakeholders to assess any impacts on staff.
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish all impact assessments his Department has made on privatising the Ministry of Justice Shared Services in Newport. [202381]
Mr Vara: The Ministry of Justice is entering into detailed discussions with Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL) regarding the future delivery of their back office services, with the intention of awarding a contract in August 2014. We expect this to bring increased savings and efficiency in back-office functions, provide further benefits across wider government and offer better value for money to the taxpayer.
Prior to this decision, the two private sector options were compared against the option to remain a standalone organisation and assessed using evaluation criteria that considered IT, cost, staff impacts and the service to our customers. The assessments will not be published as they are commercially sensitive documents.
We will continue to work with staff, trade unions and other stakeholders to assess any impacts on staff.
Open Prisons
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many offenders serving life sentences were held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years; [201999]
(2) how many offenders convicted of murder were held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years. [202001]
Jeremy Wright: It is not possible to provide the total number of offenders serving life sentences who were held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years, or the total number of offenders convicted of murder who were held in open prisons in each of the last 20 years, without incurring disproportionate cost.
Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the average length of time taken is to appeal a decision when a personal independence payment has been refused; what steps his Department plans to take to speed up the process of appeal; and if he will make a statement; [201755]
(2) what recent representations he has received on the length of time the personal independence payment appeals procedure takes. [201756]
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Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, including a person’s entitlement to personal independence payment (PIP).
(1) Claimants for PIP can appeal to the tribunal on a number of different grounds, such as the rate of benefit awarded. HMCTS is unable to isolate data relating to appeals solely on the basis of a claim for PIP having been refused. HMCTS does not, therefore, hold the specific information requested.
Information on all appeals against PIP decisions is published by HMCTS in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report for the period January to March 2014, published on 12 June 2014, can be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014
HMCTS has responded strongly to continue to increase the capacity of the SSCS tribunal and reduce waiting times. Initiatives have included increasing venue capacity and recruiting additional judges and medically qualified members.
This has resulted in 545,840 appeal disposals in 2013-14. This is a 17% increase compared to 2012-13 (465,500) and a 26% increase compared to 2011-12 (433,600).
(2) I receive regular representations on the SSCS appeals process which are taken into account as we keep the system under review. However, to date, I have not received any representations on the length of time the PIP appeals procedure takes.
Personal Independence Payment: Preston
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many refused claims for personal independence payment for people residing in the Preston constituency have been (a) appealed and (b) successfully appealed to date. [202485]
Mr Vara: The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, including a person’s entitlement to personal independence payment (PIP).
Claimants for PIP can appeal to the tribunal on a number of different grounds, such as the rate of benefit awarded. HMCTS is unable to isolate data relating to appeals solely on the basis of a claim for PIP having been refused. HMCTS does not, therefore, hold the specific information requested.
Information on all appeals against PIP decisions is published by HMCTS in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report for the period January to March 2014, published on 12 June 2014, can be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014
Prison Service
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff from each prison establishment had been sent on detached duty on 9 June 2014; and how many staff had been received at each prison establishment on detached duty on that date. [202084]
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Jeremy Wright: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given on 12 June 2014, Official Report, column 316W. The previous answer provided information on every establishment that had received or contributed staff on detached duty until the latest available date of 31 March 2014.
Prisoners
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Hewell Grange spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available; [202003]
(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Havering spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available; [202004]
(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Hatfield spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available; [202005]
(4) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Highdown spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202014]
(5) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Highpoint spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available. [202015]
Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
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. Figures for time in cell for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private
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sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison The Verne, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202017]
(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HMP Thorn Cross, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202018]
(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Prescoed, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202019]
(4) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Swinfen Hall, spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202020]
(5) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Wakefield spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available. [202108]
Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
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Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
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. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1½ million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
The establishment-level breakdown of weekly hours worked is not available centrally for 2011-12 and 2012-13 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Our reforms to the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Downview spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202316]
(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Dover spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202317]
(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Dorchester spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available. [202318]
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Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12, information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day, it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell.
Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the front-line of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending.
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. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition, there are substantial number of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225225/mi-addendum.pdf
Information on the proportion of prisoners classed as unemployed is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Our reforms to the incentives and earned privileges national policy framework came into effect in adult prisons on 1 November 2013. Prisoners will be expected to engage in purposeful activity, as well as demonstrate a commitment towards their rehabilitation, reduce their risk of reoffending, behave well and help others if they are to earn privileges.
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Glen Parva spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the last date for which data is available; [202120]
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(2) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Gloucester spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available; [202121]
(3) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Grendon spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available; [202122]
(4) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Guys Marsh spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available; [202123]
(5) how many hours per week prisoners in HM Prison Haslar spent (a) in cells and (b) working in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such prisoners were classed as unemployed on the latest date for which data is available. [202124]
Jeremy Wright: Up until the end of 2011-12 information was collected on the average hours per weekday that prisoners were unlocked. By subtracting the average hours unlocked from the 24 hours in a day it is possible to estimate hours spent locked in cell. Figures for each prison establishment for the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12 have been placed in the Library of the House.
HM Prison Gloucester was closed at the end of financial year 2012-13.
It should be noted that time in cell includes hours when prisoners are asleep. Time unlocked includes time where a prisoner is either out of their cell or where the cell door is unlocked allowing them to move freely in and out of the cell. 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.
Time unlocked was discontinued as a performance indicator for prisons at the end of 2011-12 because it was not used in the day-to-day management of prisons and NOMS had concerns over the burden on the frontline of collecting the data. Indicators introduced into prison SLAs in respect of rehabilitation, resettlement and work in prisons provide a better demonstration of efforts to prepare prisoners for release and reduce reoffending. Figures for time in cell for the years 2012-13 and 2013-14 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Work in prisons is a key priority to ensure prisoners are engaged purposefully while they are in custody. It also gives them the opportunity to learn skills and a work ethic which can increase their chances of finding employment on release, a key element to reducing reoffending.
The number of prisoners working in industrial activity across public sector prisons increased from around 8,600 in 2010-11 (the first year for which figures are available) to around 9,700 in 2012-13. This delivered an increase in the total hours worked in industrial activities from 10.6 million hours to 13.1 million hours. Private sector prisons have also been supporting this agenda and have reported that they delivered over 1.5 million prisoner working hours in commercial and industrial workshops in 2012-13 which provided work for over 1,200 prisoners. In addition there are substantial numbers of prisoners who work to keep prisons running on tasks such as cooking, serving meals, maintenance and cleaning.
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Figures for public sector prisons are published in the NOMS Annual Report Management Information Addendum: