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Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 21 October 1992
NORTHERN IRELAND
Water Services
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what were the standard costs of mains water and sewerage installation in the constituency of South Down from 1 April 1980 to 31 March 1992 ;
(2) what are the current standard costs of mains water and sewerage installation in respect of domestic properties in the constituency of South Down.
Mr. Atkins : The tables show the Department of the Environment's tariffs for connections to public water mains and sewers from 1980 to 1992. The tariffs are the same for all areas of Northern Ireland and cover the cost of time taken and fittings supplied by the Department for the connection between the two pipes.
Since 1988, where the connecting pipe to a water main is over 25 mm in diameter or, in the case of a sewer over 150 mm in diameter, the charge levied is the actual cost to the Department in carrying out the connection.
Connection to Connection to
Water Main Sewer
Year |15mm diameter pipe |22mm diameter pipe |28mm diameter pipe |100mm diameter pipe|150mm diameter pipe
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980 |38 |42.00 |49 |21.00 |28
1981 |42 |46.00 |50 |24.00 |32
1982 |42 |46.00 |50 |26.00 |35
1983 |42 |46.00 |50 |26.00 |35
1984 |38 |42.00 |45 |29.00 |38
1985 |42 |46.00 |50 |36.00 |48
1986 |50 |55.00 |60 |38.00 |50
1987 |52 |58.00 |63 |42.00 |55
Pipe not exceeding 25mm diameter Pipe not exceeding 150mm diameter
1988 |70.00 |55.00
1989 |77.50 |66.50
1990 |83.50 |67.50
1991 |95.00 |85.00
1992 |105.00 |90.00
Hospital Waiting Lists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the numbers of patients waiting for out-patient treatment on 31 March for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main speciality for periods (i) under 12 months, (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months.
Mr. Hanley : Information on waiting times for first out-patients appointments is not held centrally.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the numbers of patients
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waiting for in-patient treatment on 31 March for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main specialty for periods (i) under 12 months, (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months.Mr. Hanley : The information requested is given in the tables.
(b) Patients waiting for in-patient treatment in main specialties by months
waiting at 31 March 1992
Main specialty |0-11 months |12-23 months |24+ months
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Board
General Surgery |2,001 |317 |601
Urology |672 |267 |376
Trauma & Orthopaedic |2,354 |555 |22
ENT |1,720 |102 |21
Opthalmology |2,721 |694 |224
Oral Surgery |285 |75 |7
Plastic Surgery |874 |249 |572
Gynaecology |1,434 |17 |3
Other |1,723 |443 |593
Northern Board
General Surgery |681 |18 |4
ENT |657 |296 |8
Gynaecology |442 |5 |-
Other |2 |- |-
Southern Board
General Surgery |606 |13 |-
ENT |675 |4 |-
Gynaecology |312 |2 |-
Other |15 |- |-
Western Board
General Surgery |451 |83 |236
Trauma & Orthopaedic |359 |158 |159
ENT |986 |4 |-
Opthalmology |654 |122 |25
Oral Surgery |252 |- |-
Gynaecology |412 |- |-
Other |4 |- |-
(b) Patients waiting for in-patient treatment in main specialties by months
waiting at 31 March 1992
Main specialty |0-11 months |12-23 months |24+ months
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Board
General Surgery |2,001 |317 |601
Urology |672 |267 |376
Trauma & Orthopaedic |2,354 |555 |22
ENT |1,720 |102 |21
Opthalmology |2,721 |694 |224
Oral Surgery |285 |75 |7
Plastic Surgery |874 |249 |572
Gynaecology |1,434 |17 |3
Other |1,723 |443 |593
Northern Board
General Surgery |681 |18 |4
ENT |657 |296 |8
Gynaecology |442 |5 |-
Other |2 |- |-
Southern Board
General Surgery |606 |13 |-
ENT |675 |4 |-
Gynaecology |312 |2 |-
Other |15 |- |-
Western Board
General Surgery |451 |83 |236
Trauma & Orthopaedic |359 |158 |159
ENT |986 |4 |-
Opthalmology |654 |122 |25
Oral Surgery |252 |- |-
Gynaecology |412 |- |-
Other |4 |- |-
Housing
Mr. A. Cecil Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of Housing Executive properties (a) demolished and (b) replaced in each of the Province's local authority catchment areas for each year since and including 1979.
Mr. Atkins : This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I have been advised by the chief executive that the information which is readily available is as follows :
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Housing Executive Properties Replaced
|1979-80|1980-81|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Ards |81 |19 |44 |38 |40 |28 |- |32 |11 |- |61 |31 |61
Armagh |30 |9 |6 |30 |20 |22 |8 |19 |29 |5 |12 |31 |-
Ballymena |49 |63 |20 |41 |30 |4 |18 |13 |- |- |- |- |-
Ballymoney |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |2 |4 |- |4 |- |-
Banbridge |6 |4 |17 |13 |3 |12 |- |31 |17 |17 |32 |18 |30
Belfast |280 |704 |926 |1,740 |1,455 |1,276 |1,385 |936 |952 |754 |726 |591 |370
Carrickfergus |5 |- |- |- |- |24 |9 |- |- |- |18 |26 |-
Castlereagh |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12 |14 |- |-
Coleraine |- |10 |14 |- |34 |26 |- |22 |8 |6 |- |5 |2
Cookstown |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |7 |- |- |-
Craigavon |79 |- |22 |69 |21 |16 |39 |2 |40 |- |24 |14 |32
Derry |90 |31 |47 |70 |95 |44 |37 |18 |61 |95 |24 |27 |-
Down |17 |47 |4 |41 |30 |32 |8 |31 |- |16 |- |14 |8
Dungannon |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12
Fermanagh |- |- |- |29 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Larne |28 |15 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |15 |- |- |-
Limavady |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Lisburn |52 |- |- |92 |44 |50 |- |- |- |- |- |- |5
Magherafelt |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |8 |13 |- |- |- |9
Moyle |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |3 |- |- |9 |1
Newry and Mourne |36 |6 |- |74 |49 |7 |51 |5 |17 |67 |78 |30 |8
Newtownabbey |- |12 |- |- |- |- |- |- |10 |10 |- |- |-
North Down |- |- |- |- |- |- |3 |16 |- |- |- |- |-
Omagh |- |- |- |- |6 |- |- |14 |- |- |4 |6 |-
Strabane |19 |27 |19 |7 |12 |31 |31 |5 |17 |14 |4 |6 |2
Note (1) This does not cover the Housing Executive's total new build programme but relates mainly to the replacement of
dwellings in redevelopment areas and of unfit dwellings in housing action areas. It also includes replacement dwellings for the
demolition of obsolete purpose-built stock such as Orlit dwellings, aluminium bungalows and rural cottages.
Housing Executive Properties Replaced
|1979-80|1980-81|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90|1990-91|1991-92
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antrim |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Ards |81 |19 |44 |38 |40 |28 |- |32 |11 |- |61 |31 |61
Armagh |30 |9 |6 |30 |20 |22 |8 |19 |29 |5 |12 |31 |-
Ballymena |49 |63 |20 |41 |30 |4 |18 |13 |- |- |- |- |-
Ballymoney |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |2 |4 |- |4 |- |-
Banbridge |6 |4 |17 |13 |3 |12 |- |31 |17 |17 |32 |18 |30
Belfast |280 |704 |926 |1,740 |1,455 |1,276 |1,385 |936 |952 |754 |726 |591 |370
Carrickfergus |5 |- |- |- |- |24 |9 |- |- |- |18 |26 |-
Castlereagh |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12 |14 |- |-
Coleraine |- |10 |14 |- |34 |26 |- |22 |8 |6 |- |5 |2
Cookstown |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |7 |- |- |-
Craigavon |79 |- |22 |69 |21 |16 |39 |2 |40 |- |24 |14 |32
Derry |90 |31 |47 |70 |95 |44 |37 |18 |61 |95 |24 |27 |-
Down |17 |47 |4 |41 |30 |32 |8 |31 |- |16 |- |14 |8
Dungannon |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |12
Fermanagh |- |- |- |29 |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Larne |28 |15 |1 |- |- |- |- |- |- |15 |- |- |-
Limavady |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |-
Lisburn |52 |- |- |92 |44 |50 |- |- |- |- |- |- |5
Magherafelt |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |8 |13 |- |- |- |9
Moyle |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |- |3 |- |- |9 |1
Newry and Mourne |36 |6 |- |74 |49 |7 |51 |5 |17 |67 |78 |30 |8
Newtownabbey |- |12 |- |- |- |- |- |- |10 |10 |- |- |-
North Down |- |- |- |- |- |- |3 |16 |- |- |- |- |-
Omagh |- |- |- |- |6 |- |- |14 |- |- |4 |6 |-
Strabane |19 |27 |19 |7 |12 |31 |31 |5 |17 |14 |4 |6 |2
Note (1) This does not cover the Housing Executive's total new build programme but relates mainly to the replacement of
dwellings in redevelopment areas and of unfit dwellings in housing action areas. It also includes replacement dwellings for the
demolition of obsolete purpose-built stock such as Orlit dwellings, aluminium bungalows and rural cottages.
Anaesthetists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list by regional health board the current establishment requirement for anaesthetists ; and what is the number in post.
Mr. Hanley : No establishment requirement figure is set by the Department. The table gives the number of consultant anaesthetists, expressed in the form of
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"whole-time equivalent", for each health and social services board as at 30 June 1992, the latest date for which figures are available.Health and Social |Consultant Services Board |Anaesthetists ------------------------------------------------------ Eastern |59.68 Northern |11.00 Southern |13.00 Western |13.00
Newtownbreda Bomb
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many homes were damaged as a result of the terrorist bomb explosion at Newtownbreda on Wednesday 23 September ; which public services were present in Belvoir estate on Thursday 24 September to assist those who had suffered damages ; what arrangements have been made to either rehouse house owners or repair the homes of house owners ; and if he will arrange for immediate interim compensation payments to those who have experienced loss as a result of this bomb.
Mr. Atkins : The number of homes damaged at Newtownbreda is estimated to be 1,002 of which approximately 10 per cent. were seriously damaged, 40 per cent. were moderately damaged and 50 per cent. suffered minor damage.
Officials from the following public services were present on 24 September :
1. The Compensation Agency
2. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive
3. The Social Security Agency
4. The Eastern Health and Social Services Board
5. The South-Eastern Education and Library Board
6. The Royal Ulster Constabulary
7. Castlereagh Borough Council
8. Northern Ireland Fire Authority
9. The Department of the Environment.
In addition, 500 meals were provided by Purdysburn and Belvoir Park hospitals on 24 September.
Twenty-four houseowners were rendered homeless as a result of the explosion ; three of these have been found temporary accommodation in the Belvoir/Cregagh area, and 11 have been allocated mobile homes sited in the area until such times as the repairs to their own homes are completed. The remaining houseowners have made their own arrangements. Eighteen families in Housing Executive properties were similarly affected and have either made their own arrangements or been found alternative accommodation by the executive.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive carried out first-aid repairs to approximately 300 owner-occupied houses and to 574 of its own houses. The executive is currently carrying out permanent repairs to its own houses and estimates that all its houses will have been repaired by Christmas. In addition, the executive has been authorised to carry out permanent repairs to private houses, under the special arrangements announced by the Secretary of State, if requested by the owners.
Following the explosion, the Compensation Agency had an incident team of eight people together with a team of 18 loss adjusters working on site by midday on 24 September. The agency has manned an information point in Belvoir activity centre until 15 October and loss adjusters remain on site to assist the public in furthering their claims. As at 14 October 890 notifications to claim compensation have been received and the agency has advanced £30,714 as interim payments. Everything possible continues to be done to ensure that interim payments are made speedily to those in need.
Eye Operations
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been on the waiting list for eye operations at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast in each of the past five years.
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Mr. Hanley : The numbers of persons waiting for in-patient treatment in ophthalmology at the Royal Victoria hospital in each of the last five years were as follows :
Position at 31 March |Numbers waiting --------------------------------------------------------------- 1988 |1,610 1989 |2,572 1990 |3,083 1991 |3,752 1992 |3,639 Exact numbers waiting for eye operations are not available.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Civil Servants' Shareholdings
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance, other than the civil service pay and conditions of service code and the establishment officers' guide, his Department provides relating to civil servants' shareholdings ; if he will list the number of occasions within the past five years on which civil servants have reported shareholdings to establishment officers in his Department ; what regulations apply to the staff of the next steps agencies within his Department ; what mechanisms are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. Taylor : The Lord Chancellor's Department's guidance is contained in the departmental personnel management manual which is based on the code and guide. There have been no reports of shareholdings to establishment officers in the last five years. The code and guide regulations apply to the next steps agencies as to the rest of the Department.
The personnel management manual and next steps agency regulations require all staff to consult personnel if a shareholding might raise a question of possible conflict.
TRANSPORT
Railway Investment
Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table showing state investment in national railway networks in each of the 12 Community countries in each of the past 10 years.
Mr. Freeman : The information requested is not readily available.
Traffic Accidents
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each of the past five years the numbers of people (a) killed and (b) sustaining serious injury, where excessive vehicle speed has been a contributory factor ; and if he will provide a breakdown of those figures according to the number of incidents involving motor cycles and each other convenient type of vehicle.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : This information is not collected by the Department, but we estimate that about one third of all serious accidents are caused by excessive speed.
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Environmental Protection
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the initiatives relating to environmental protection taken by his Department since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ; and what further proposals he plans for 1992-93.
Mr. MacGregor : Speed limiters for new heavy goods vehicles were introduced on 1 August. Certain existing vehicles over 16 tonnes will be required to have speed limiters from 1 August 1993. These measures will improve fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
On 1 September a metered smoke test was introduced into the annual roadworthiness test for heavy goods vehicles. A similar test will be introduced for diesel engined cars and light vans from 1 January 1993.
From the end of this year most new cars will require catalytic converters to meet tighter EC emissions standards. The United Kingdom Government continue to press for even tighter emissions and noise standards for vehicles and to discuss with other member states and the Commission measures to improve the fuel efficiency of new cars. We are working on a number of other initiatives for 1992-93, including the publication of an updated manual of environmental appraisal. The White Paper "This Common Inheritance--The Second Year Report" gives further information about our work to reduce the impact of transport on the environment.
Bus Deregulation
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to consult on the consequences of bus deregulation.
Mr. Freeman : I am reviewing the operation of bus deregulation to see whether some minor modifications to the system might be appropriate. A consultation paper will be issued in due course.
Leicester Roads
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the origin/destination surveys were carried out on the A47, A6 and A46 on vehicles approaching Leicester ; what were the results ; and if further surveys will be carried out at a later date.
Mr. Kenneth Carlisle : The most recent origin and destination surveys on the A47, A6 and A46 were carried out in 1988. The surveys showed that through journeys on each of these routes were relatively low. Further surveys will be carried out.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Prisoners (Citizens Charter)
Mr. Betts : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the citizen's charter applies to the rights of prisoners and, in particular, their dietary requirements.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Yes. The principles of the citizen's charter fully extend to all those held in custody. A code of standards will be published by the end of 1993 and will include a range of standards relating to dietary requirements.
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Muslim Prisoners
Mr. Betts : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances any prisoner who is a Muslim is entitled to have halal meat at any meal ; what alternatives are available ; and if he will make a statement ;
(2) for what reasons Muslim prisoners at Armley prison cannot obtain halal meat at weekday meals ; what plans exist to change this situation ; and whether the current instruction is consistent with the prison dietary scale.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Prison service standing orders provide that prisoners are entitled to a diet which accords with the requirements of their religion as agreed between a relevant religious body and prison service headquarters. The directory and guide on religious practices in the prison service sets out the permitted observances and facilities for Muslim prisoners, as agreed with the Islamic Cultural Centre. This provides that prison establishments should seek to provide halal meat on a number of days each week. Where halal meat is not available and other meat is not acceptable, a vegetarian diet should be provided. The arrangements at Her Majesty's prison, Leeds accord with these requirements. Halal meat is provided at the weekends ; otherwise a vegetarian diet is available in accordance with the dietary scales.
British National Party
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to his answer of 13 July, Official Report, column 497 , if he will make available in the Library copies of those documents seized by the Metropolitan police from the headquarters of the British National party.
Mr. Charles Wardle : The documents which were seized by the Metropolitan police are with the police at Bexleyheath awaiting collection by the British National party.
The documents consist of samples of a large number of different British National party publications which are available from the British National party bookshop. The Home Office has no copies of the documents to make available to the Library.
Carl Bridgewater
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his consideration of the Carl Bridgewater convictions ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jack : This complex case is being considered with every care and expedition and I hope to be in a position to reach a decision soon.
Racially Inflammatory Publications
Mr. Austin-Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to seek to amend the Public Order Act 1986 to increase its effectiveness in dealing with racially inflammatory publications.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The Government deplore any actions and publications which are likely or intended to stir up racial hatred. We believe that part III of the Public Order Act 1986 has played an important part in deterring them,
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but it is for the police and prosecuting authorities to decide whether proceedings should be taken in any particular case. We shall continue to keep the legislation and its operation under review, but we have no present plans for amending it.Fire Brigades (Fleet Maintenance)
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement outlining the procedures to be followed in the event of a company which had gained a tender for the fleet management of fire brigade vehicles subsequently getting into financial difficulties and having its assets seized while still maintaining the tender.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Compulsory competitive tendering for maintaining fire brigade vehicles remains under review, but there are no plans to require tendering for fleet management.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received concerning the implementation of compulsory competitive tendering in the fire service ; and how many of these representations have called for the upkeep of fire engines to be made exempt from compulsory tendering arrangements.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : With the exception of Hertfordshire fire authority, all fire authorities and other fire service representative bodies in England and Wales have expressed opposition to compulsory competitive tendering for the maintenance of their vehicle fleets.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the direct fleet maintenance costs for fire brigade vehicles in each fire brigade authority in Wales ; and if he will outline the comparable direct costs for each fire brigade authority area which has put tenders out to external companies in England.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information about costs of brigade vehicle fleet maintenance is not available centrally.
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the fire brigades in Wales which are currently able to identify unit costs throughout their fleet management organisations.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Of the eight brigades in Wales, four are currently able to identify their brigade vehicle fleet unit costs, one will have identifiable costs by April 1993 and three are within their local authority costing schemes.
Disabled People
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff employed by his Department currently specialise on electoral issues ; of those staff members how many are responsible for accessibility to the electoral process for disabled people ; and what plans he has to increase staff numbers in this area.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : There are currently four members of staff who spend all or most of their time on electoral matters. All include voting rights for disabled people among their responsibilities. There are no plans to increase staffing levels.
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Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to undertake regular consultation with representative groups and organisations concerning the accessibility of the electoral process for disabled people.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We already consult some groups representing disabled people on matters in which they have an interest. We would welcome an approach from any others who wish to bring their particular concerns to our attention, or to offer their special expertise.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to conduct sample surveys on the accessibility of polling stations before, during and after each round of local, general and European elections.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No. Sample surveys would not be an effective use of our resources in this area, which are better directed to providing financial support. It is our long-term aim to have all polling stations capable of easy access by disabled electors, and we issue regular reminders to district and London borough councils of their obligation to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to the disabled.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to review the implementation of schedule 4 to the amended Representation of the People Act 1985, concerning the accessibility of polling stations.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : We keep all electoral law and practice under regular review. We are currently undertaking a comprehensive review in the light of experience at the general election in April.
Remand Prisoners
Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the Woolf report on remand prisoners.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Progress has been as follows :
(a) The assisted prison visits scheme was extended from 1 April 1991 to apply to the families of unconvicted prisoners from the date of the prisoner's reception into custody.
(b) Guidance on visits by relatives and friends of unconvicted prisoners on the lines recommended in the Woolf report was issued to governors in May 1991.
(c) A statement of principle on unconvicted prisoners has been adopted, as announced on 15 July in the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler) at column 783.
(d) Bail information schemes are now in operation at 18 local prisons and remand centres and are under consideration at a similar number. The aim is to have schemes at all such establishments by 1995.
(e) The particular needs of unconvicted prisoners are covered (
(i) in a model regime for local prisons and remand centres, which is about to be issued as a framework for planning enhanced regimes, and
(ii) in guidance to be issued shortly on the management of reception and induction arrangements.
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Action is in hand on other aspects of the Woolf report relating to unconvicted prisoners, as indicated in the White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice".Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information his Department holds about the number of remand prisoners in the United Kingdom currently being held in the same cells as convicted prisoners.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information on the number of remand prisoners sharing cells with convicted prisoners is not collected centrally. The prison service seeks to keep unconvicted and convicted prisoners separate but the two classes of prisoner are held in the same wings, and occasionally even share cells, where the alternative would be to increase the overcrowding of part of the prisons or lead to prisoners being held in police cells. In particular, prisoners being segregated for their own protection may be mixed in this way because of limited accommodation.
Murder Statistics
Mr. Fraser : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average period served in custody by those convicted for murder in the latest convenient
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period for which figures are available and in respect of whom there is no recommendation for a minimum period of detention.Mr. Peter Lloyd : According to the records held centrally, which are approximate, the average time served under sentence in prison service establishments by murderers first released on licence in 1991 was 11.8 years. This figure excludes one prisoner who was the subject of a formal minimum recommendation under section 1(2) of the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965.
Prisoners
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by (a) sex and (b) year for the last four years, the percentage of prisoners sentenced to prison who have had no previous convictions.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested is not available for 1991. Information for 1987 to 1990 is given in the table. This is based on figures published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales"-- tables 3.11, 4.9 and 5.9 of the 1990 issue, Cm 1800.
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Receptions into Prison Service establishments under an immediate custodial
sentence by sex and previous convictions, 1987-90
Number with
previous
convictions
Sex and yeaTotal numbNot recordRecorded Percentage with 0
reception receptions previous
convictions as a
percentage of total
with previous
convictions
recorded
|Total |0 |1 or more
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Males
1987 |64,551 |16,370 |48,181 |2,923 |45,258 |6
1988 |62,206 |18,369 |43,837 |3,948 |39,889 |9
1989 |56,795 |21,637 |35,158 |3,363 |31,795 |10
1990 |48,736 |21,723 |27,013 |3,579 |23,434 |13
Females
1987 |3,084 |1,236 |1,848 |313 |1,535 |17
1988 |2,813 |1,058 |1,755 |377 |1,378 |21
1989 |2,650 |1,347 |1,303 |288 |1,015 |22
1990 |2,115 |1,090 |1,025 |162 |863 |16
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