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Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people have committed suicide since May 2004 in prisons and in immigration detention centres; and what steps are being taken to prevent such deaths. [HL1076]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: There has been one apparent self-inflicted death in an immigration removal centre, and 63 in Prison Service establishments since 1 May 2004 (up to end 31 January 2005). This includes deaths where it appears the individual acted specifically to take his or her own life, not just those that receive a suicide verdict at inquest. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman investigates all deaths in Prison Service establishments and Immigration Service removal centres.
Reducing the number of apparently self-inflicted deaths in prisons is a key priority. More is being done to prevent such tragedies than ever before. On 31 March 2004, I announced how the development of the suicide prevention strategy which aims to "Reduce distress and promote the well-being of all who live and work in prisons".
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This strategy builds on a three-year programme of work that has been running since April 2001. It has close links with issues of resettlement, detoxification, health, purposeful activity, and staff training. Key achievements include ensuring that suicide prevention co-ordinators now operate in all prisons, an investment of over £21 million at six "safer local" pilot sites, a widening of peer support schemes and the development of a safer prison design that includes safer cells.
EU Nationals: UK Entry
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
In relation to the arrival in the United Kingdom of any person holding a valid passport of a member state of the European Union, what is the current basis of any provision whereby entry can be postponed or denied, together with any similar provision within the European Constitution. [HL1108]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: EC Council Directive 68/360 provides that an EU national must be admitted to the United Kingdom on production of a valid passport or identity card. Article 39 of the EC Treaty and EC Council Directive 64/221 allows the United Kingdom to derogate from this if there is reason to believe that an EU national poses a threat to public policy, public security or public health.
Article III–133 of the European Constitution contains the same public policy, public security and public health derogation to that which is contained in Article 39 of the EC Treaty.
Racial Hatred Offences: Prosecutions
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government:
What specific examples of words, behaviour, publications, plays or broadcasts which have come to the attention of the police or the Crown Prosecution Service over the past four years could have been prosecuted under the proposed offences of incitement to racial hatred under Clause 122 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. [HL1114]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As incitement to religious hatred is not currently an offence, and has not been in the past, individual cases have not been reviewed against the tests set out above and hence, it is not possible to say whether such events could have been prosecuted as incitement to religious hatred.
Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many directions to disperse in the Metropolitan Police area have been made under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 to disperse groups and remove persons under 16 to their place of residence. [HL1181]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tells me that, between January and December 2004, the Metropolitan Police authorised 61 areas under Section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. In these areas, 3,312 people were dispersed and 149 young people under the age of 16 were taken home.
Terrorism Act 2000
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many arrests have been made under the Terrorism Act 2000; how many of those arrested:
(b) have been convicted of; and
terrorist-related offences; and how many:
(ii) have been convicted of; and
other criminal offences, detailed by category; and how many have been released without charge. [HL1248]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Statistics provided to the Home Office by the police on arrests and charges from 11 September 2001 until 31 December 2004 under the Terrorism Act 2000 are on the Home Office website at www.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk/terrorism/. (These are compiled from recent police records and are therefore subject to change as cases go through the system.)
Criminal Proceedings: Use of Intercept Materials
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 February (WA 102–103) concerning the use of intercept material in criminal proceedings, which countries' legal regimes were considered; and how they were selected for consideration. [HL1336]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The review of intercept as evidence considered in particular the intercept regimes of the US, Australia, the Netherlands and France. These countries were selected as representing a range of criminal justice regimes in which intercept is used evidentially.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 February (WA 102–103) concerning the use of intercept material in criminal proceedings, which of the countries' legal regimes are adversarial in nature; and which are inquisitorial. [HL1337]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The legal regimes of the US and Australia are adversarial in nature, those of the Netherlands and France inquisitorial.
Armed Forces: Skiing and Snowboarding
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Army and the Royal Air Force hold ski or snowboard championships; if so, where and when they take place; how many people attend and on what basis; and at what cost to public funds. [HL1060]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): Both Army and the Royal Air Force hold ski and snowboard championships. Costs of attending are largely met by those Army/RAF personnel participating, but under triservice regulations, they are entitled to claim an allowance towards their food and travel.
The Army Alpine Skiing Championships were held at Serre Chevalier between 20 and 28 January with 132 competitors and officials being involved. The Army Snowboard Championships were held at Stubaital, Austria 13 to 21 December with 120 competitors and officials. Two hundred competitors took part in the Army Nordic Championships held at Ruhpolding 20 January to 4 February. These events were preceded by corps and divisional championships held at different European venues earlier in January. The costs to public funds of all Army events are estimated to be a maximum of £386,000.
The Royal Air Force Championships took place in Saalbach, Austria between 8 and 22 January. Some 758 RAF personnel attended Saalbach at an estimated maximum costs to public funds of £94,000. A team of 12 RAF also participated in Army-organised Nordic Championships at a cost of £8,000.
Armed Forces: Lost Leave
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the total amount of lost leave in 1996–97 and 2003–04 for personnel in the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and Royal Marines. [HL1237]
Lord Bach: The information requested is not held centrally. However, DASA undertakes an annual survey of leave. This survey is used to produce an estimate of the average number of leave days lost per person for each service, shown in the table below.
| Naval service | Army | RAF | |
| 1996–97 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 3.0 |
| 2003–04 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 1.4 |
(1) Naval Service includes the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines
Direct comparisons between 1996–97 and 2003–04 should not be made due to changes in leave allowance.
23 Feb 2005 : Column WA206
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