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Police (Manpower)
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers per head of population there were in each police force and in total (a) on the last
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date for which figures are available, (b) in May 1998, (c) in May 1997 and (d) in April 1992. [68548]
Mr. McLeish:
The figures, to the nearest available dates, per thousand population are shown in the table.
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| 30 September 1998 | 30 June 1998 | 30 June 1997 | 31 March 1992 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | 2.58 | 2.54 | 2.47 | 2.36 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3.02 | 2.97 | 2.81 | 2.60 |
| Fife | 2.44 | 2.44 | 2.43 | 2.28 |
| Grampian | 2.30 | 2.30 | 2.23 | 2.26 |
| Lothian and Borders | 3.01 | 3.04 | 3.06 | 2.96 |
| Northern | 2.36 | 2.33 | 2.30 | 2.37 |
| Strathclyde | 3.18 | 3.18 | 3.21 | 2.95 |
| Tayside | 2.94 | 2.93 | 2.84 | 2.69 |
| Total | 2.91 | 2.91 | 2.90 | 2.74 |
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From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers there were in each police force and in total (a) on the last date for which
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 56
figures are available, (b) in May 1998, (c) in May 1997 and (d) in April 1992. [68547]
Mr. McLeish:
The figures, to the nearest available date, are shown in the table.
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8 Feb 1999 : Column: 55
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those functions carried out by civilian staff in each police force; how many civilian staff were employed in each police force in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [69025]
Mr. McLeish:
Civilian support staff in each police force are under the direction and control of the chief constable, who is responsible for the functions they perform. Guidance issued to chief constables in Police Circular No. 9/1996 distinguishes between tasks which do not require police powers and should normally be done only by support staff, and tasks which can be done mainly by support staff but require some contribution from police officers. I have arranged for a copy of this Circular to be placed in the Library of the House.
The numbers of civilian staff requested are shown in the table.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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Prison Visitors (Drug-related Offences)
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visitors to prisons were arrested for drug related offences in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [68543]
Mr. McLeish: All prisons face the risk of prisoners visitors seeking to bring illegal drugs into establishments, and take a variety of measures to prevent it. Appropriate action is taken where there are reasonable grounds for suspicion, and any visitor who is caught is referred to the police. Records are not, however, maintained by the Scottish Prison Service of the number of arrests which arise from such action.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the level of purposeful activity per week undertaken by prisoners, broken down into (a) education, (b) training, (c) work and (d) rehabilitation programmes in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [68545]
Mr. McLeish:
The information requested is not available centrally in the detail sought. Figures for the number of prisoners engaged in work are recorded and provided in the Scottish Prison Service Annual Report and Accounts. The numbers involved in vocational training are collected separately. The figures are shown in the table:
| Year | Average daily number of convicted prisoners employed | Percentage of prisoners employed involved in training |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 4,146 | 12.5 |
| 1994-95 | 4,094 | 12.0 |
| 1995-96 | 3,982 | 11.3 |
| 1996-97 | 4,001 | 13.8 |
| 1997-98 | 3,932 | 10.1 |
Targets for participation in rehabilitation programmes were first set for the Scottish Prison Service in 1996. In 1996-97, 381 prisoners completed cognitive skills programmes and 67 completed sex offender programmes. In 1997-98, 635 prisoners completed cognitive skills programmes and 91 completed sex offender programmes.
The Scottish Prison Service is developing a computerised management information system for regime activity to support continuous improvement in prisoner programmes and other opportunities. From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police stations there were, in each
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police force and in total (a) on the last date for which figures are available, (b) in May 1998, (c) in May 1997 and (d) in April 1992. [68549]
Mr. McLeish:
The figures requested for 1992 are shown in the table. The number of police stations is no longer collected centrally.
| Number of police stations at 31 December 1992 | |
|---|---|
| Central | 23 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 25 |
| Fife | 56 |
| Grampian | 77 |
| Lothian and Borders | 60 |
| Northern | 92 |
| Strathclyde | 199 |
| Tayside | 50 |
| Total | 591 |
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Speed Cameras
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average (a) capital cost and (b) annual running cost of a new speed camera. [69021]
Mr. Macdonald: A fixed site camera of the type used on trunk roads in Scotland costs around £52,000, including installation. Police forces administer the operation of these cameras and information on running costs is not held centrally.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Legal Aid
Sir Robert Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average annual cost of a legal aid case in each of the last five years; what was the annual change in (a) real and (b) cash terms; and if he will make a statement. [69022]
Mr. McLeish:
The information is set out in the table.
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| £ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | |
| Average case costs | |||||
| Criminal | 882 | 958 | 957 | 1,000 | 1,073 |
| Civil | 1,011 | 1,176 | 1,425 | 1,583 | 1,685 |
| Advice and Assistance | 87 | 90 | 92 | 97 | 99 |
| Annual change in cash terms | |||||
| Criminal | n/a | +76 | -1 | +43 | +73 |
| Civil | n/a | +165 | +249 | +158 | +102 |
| Advice and Assistance | n/a | +3 | +2 | +5 | +2 |
| Annual change in real terms | |||||
| Criminal | n/a | 62 | -28 | 13 | 46 |
| Civil | n/a | 149 | 209 | 111 | 59 |
| Advice and Assistance | n/a | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
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These figures illustrate that average case costs for the three main categories of legal aid show a rising trend even when inflation is discounted. We are determined to address value for money while maintaining access to justice.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 58
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure on legal aid in each of the last five years; what was the annual change in expenditure in cash and real terms; and if he will make a statement. [69023]
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8 Feb 1999 : Column: 59
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Sir Robert Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the current eligibility criteria for receiving legal aid; and if he will make a statement. [69024]
Mr. McLeish:
Advice and assistance on matters of Scots law is available without contribution to any applicant in receipt of income support, income-based Job Seeker's Allowance and family credit. It is also available without contribution to any applicant whose disposable income (in respect of the 7 days up to and including the date of application) does not exceed £72 and whose disposable capital does not exceed £1,000. Advice and assistance is also available subject to a contribution to any applicant whose disposable income is between £72 and £172 and whose disposable capital does not exceed £1,000.
Assistance by Way of Representation (ABWOR) is a form of advice and assistance available in criminal proceedings and in certain non-criminal proceedings such as mental health tribunals and failure to obey a court order. Solicitors can provide ABWOR if an applicant satisfies the advice and assistance financial tests.
Civil legal aid is available subject to applicants satisfying the statutory tests of financial eligibility, probable cause and reasonableness. It is available without contribution to any applicant in receipt of income support or income-based Job Seeker's Allowance. It is also available without contribution to applicants whose annual disposable income and capital do not exceed £2,625 and £3,000 respectively. Applicants with an annual disposable income between £2,625 and £8,571 and disposable capital between £3,000 and £8,560 must pay a contribution.
Summary criminal legal aid is granted by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and solemn criminal legal aid is granted by the courts.
No formal means test is applied to an applicant for criminal legal aid. Instead, it must be demonstrated that the accused could not meet the expenses of his defence without causing undue hardship to himself or his dependants. In addition, applicants for summary criminal legal aid must be able to demonstrate that it is in the interests of justice that it be awarded.
We are committed to ensuring access to justice, effective targeting and value for money from the legal aid budget.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
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