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Television Licence Fine Defaulters
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people served a prison sentence during 1996 for television licence fine default; and if he will make a statement. [17964]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from David Scott to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 6 March 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of people who have served a prison sentence during 1996 for television licence fine default.
Provisional information for 1996 shows that 336 people--245 males and 91 females--were received into prison for defaulting on a fine after conviction for using a television without a licence.
Prison Establishments (Children)
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which prison establishments are currently holding children under 17 years of age; how many children are in each; and what arrangements are being made for their education. [17482]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
(3) All figures are provisional.
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Prisoner Admittance (Costs)
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the average cost of admitting a prisoner into each prison type. [17496]
Miss Widdecombe: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 6 March 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the average cost of admitting a prisoner into each type of prison.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new initiatives he is assessing to target those who exploit prostitutes and live on their earnings. [18490]
Mr. Maclean:
We are not, at present, considering any fresh initiatives to target those who exploit prostitutes. The Government's position remains that those living off the sexual exploitation of others should be dealt with severely. My right hon. and learned Friend recently announced his intention to undertake a review of the
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current maximum penalties for sexual offence, which includes offences relating to those who exploit and live on the earnings of prostitutes.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the strategy adopted by the chief constable of Nottingham to deal with those who exploit prostitutes. [18491]
Mr. Maclean:
We welcome the recent agreement between Nottinghamshire constabulary and Nottinghamshire social services on how best to tackle the problem of child prostitution. It is too early to assess how successful the agreement has been, but the Government firmly support a multi-agency approach as the best way of addressing child prostitution and ensuring that children and youngsters receive the care and protection they deserve. The need for co-operation between the agencies working in this area is reflected in the joint Home Office and Department of Health guidance, "Working together under the Children Act 1989".
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussion he has had with the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding street prostitution. [18489]
Mr. Maclean:
My right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed street prostitution in his regular meetings with the Association of Chief Police Officers, but officials have been discussing a multi-agency approach to child prostitution with ACPO and discuss other issues with the police as matters arise.
Sir Donald Thompson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if those owners of prohibited high calibre handguns who wish to retain their weapons as mementos, having first arranged for de-activation and having obtained de-activation certificates, will be able to obtain compensation based on individual valuation of the weapon in its original state. [18615]
Miss Widdecombe:
No. Under the terms of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997, payments in respect of high calibre handguns may be made only where such items are surrendered to the police.
Ms Abbott:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average sentence served by convicted murderers released in the last five years.[18477]
This information is not available centrally as the costs of the admission process are not recorded separately.
| Sentence | |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 12.4 years |
| 1993 | 14.4 years |
| 1994 | 15.4 years |
| 1995 | 14.0 years |
| 1996 | (4)13.4 years |
| 1992 to 1996 | 14.0 years |
(4) Provisional.
6 Mar 1997 : Column: 698
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers have killed again after release from prison in the last 10 years; and what is the average sentence that they serve as a result. [18478]
Mr. Maclean: In England and Wales, during the years 1986 to 1995, nine persons released from prison after having served a sentence following conviction for murder are known to have killed again.
One of these persons subsequently committed suicide. The other eight were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ms Abbott:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to (a) review the sentencing policy for those convicted of murder and (b) introduce different categories of murder. [18479]
Mr. Maclean:
The Government have no plans to review either the sentence for, or the offence of, murder.
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