To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the expenditure by each police force in each of the last five years for which figures are available devoted to enforcing the Protection of Children Act 1978. [5449]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the expenditure of the National Criminal Intelligence Service in each of the last five years for which figures are available devoted to gathering information on child pornography. [5451]

Gathering information on child pornography is only one area of the work of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) Paedophile Section and it is not possible to separate expenditure for that purpose from the other activities of the Section. Figures for expenditure by the Paedophile Section, available for the last two years only, are as follows:

• 1995–96: £53,027
• 1996–97: £61,672.

These figures are based on staff costs and running expenses but exclude costs of accommodation and other central expenditure.Other units in NCIS, such as Interpol and Europol, also conduct work to combat paedophilia and child pornography, but their expenditure on such activity is not separately recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlie the proposed retention of the part of the primary purpose rules which requires the couple to prove that they intend to live together permanently as husband and wife. [5627]

The requirement in the Immigration Rules on marriage to which my hon. Friend refers is not part of the primary purpose rule. It is needed to prevent foreign nationals from using sham marriages as a means to obtain settlement here. The primary purpose rule affected genuine marriages.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to review the funding for victim support schemes; [5982]

We regard support for victims of crime as a priority. We have therefore made available immediately an additional £1 million a year for the work of Victim Support, taking their annual grant to £12.7 million. The extra money will enable Victim Support to set up a national helpline for victims of crime, and to develop further the work of their court-based and local support schemes. We shall maintain a continuing dialogue with Victim Support about their programme of work and funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the feasibility and cost of providing a nationwide victim support service for witnesses in magistrates courts. [5983]

We have received a number of representations about the perceived need to improve services for victims, witnesses and other users of magistrates courts, although details have not been collated centrally. A draft final research consultancy report commissioned to assess those needs and to recommend realistic and affordable options for improving support is currently being considered by a standing group of officials from the Government departments and criminal justice agencies with an interest in improving the court/trials process. Victim Support is represented on that group. The group's deliberations should help us to determine priorities for improving services for users of magistrates' courts and how these might best be provided.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances plastic baton rounds are used by police in England and Wales. [6116]

Police forces in England and Wales hold plastic baton rounds for use as a last resort in dealing with serious public disorder. They may be used where conventional methods of policing have been tried and failed or are unlikely to succeed if tried, and where the chief officer decides such action to be necessary because of the risk of loss of life or serious injury, or of widespread destruction of property where the damage may lead to serious risk of loss of life or serious personal injury. Plastic baton rounds have never been used operationally in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 510, on the case of Mr. Patrick Nicholls; what part Mr. Nicholls's insistence that he is innocent has played in the Parole Board's decision; and if he will make a statement. [6132]

The reasons given by the Parole Board for their latest decision in Mr. Nicholls's case do not refer to his insistence on his innocence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement the report of the 1991 working party recommendations to give local authorities a statutory duty to organise plans for community safety. [5985]

We intend to place a new responsibility on local authorities and the police service jointly to develop statutory local partnerships for crime prevention and community safety and to agree, with the key partners, local community safety targets. Our proposals will be developed on the basis of full consultation with all interested parties. This will be included in the forthcoming Crime and Disorder Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for the home Department when he will implement the provisions of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. [5974]

We plan to implement the Sex Offenders Act 1997 later this year and we are currently working with the police and others on the systems necessary to achieve early implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is proposing to tackle anti-social behaviour within neighbourhoods. [5492]

We intend to introduce Community Safety Orders in the Crime and Disorder Bill.Courts will be given the power to grant such orders on the application of a local authority or the police. The order will apply to a named individual or individuals and would prevent that person or persons from continuing with specified anti-social conduct.A breach of the order will be a criminal offence which would carry stiff penalties— including the possibility of imprisonment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from ACPO about (a) placing traffic duties within the core objectives for chief constables, (b) the establishment of specialised traffic units and (c) the training of traffic officers. [5432]

In the current review of the key policing objectives for 1998–99, my Department has been advised that there is some support within the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) for a national objective on traffic policing, but I understand that this view is not supported by ACPO as a whole.Issues concerning the organisation of traffic units within police forces and the training of traffic officers fall within the operational responsibilities of individual chief constables. My Department has not received representations from ACPO about those matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he will take to ensure that convicted child sex offenders, during their prison sentence, are not placed on community work programmes which bring them into direct contact with children. [5491]

Procedures are already in place to identify prisoners convicted of current or previous offences, including sexual offences, against children and young persons under the age of eighteen. In considering applications for release on temporary licence for work outside the establishment, both the nature of the work and the prisoner's offences are taken into account as part of a mandatory rigorous risk assessment process, which includes consultation with the police and probation services in serious cases. These arrangements are designed to prevent the temporary release of any prisoner considered to pose an undue risk to public safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons detained under Immigration Act powers in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996 were subsequently granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [5410]

The number of persons granted leave to remain¹ in the United Kingdom who had, at some stage², been detained was 470 in 1995, and 540 in 1996.

¹ Includes cases where enforcement action was withdrawn or abandoned and asylum cases that were granted or given exceptional leave to remain, indefinite leave to remain or exceptional leave to enter.

² Detention period does not necessarily relate to the year of decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of detention of persons detained under Immigration Act powers, in the three most recent years for which figures are available. [5413]

Information on the average length of time a person has been kept in detention under Immigration Act powers can be obtained only by examination of individual case records. I regret that the information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of persons detained under Immigration Act powers were reviewed at Immigration Service Headquarters level in (a) 1994, (b) 1995 and (c) 1996. [5401]

Information on the number of cases of persons detained under Immigration Act powers reviewed at Immigration Service Headquarters level can be obtained only by examination of individual case records. I regret that the information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 9 June, Official Report, column 336, what proportion of those currently detained under Immigration Act powers have sought a judicial review of the decision to detain them. [5402]

Information on the proportion of persons detained under Immigration Act powers who have sought a judicial review of the decision to detain can be obtained only by examination of individual case records. I regret that the information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of persons detained under Immigration Act powers for six months or longer in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [5403]

Reliable information on the historical flow of persons placed into detention and on the length of such detention can be obtained only through examination of individual case records. I regret that the information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 9 June, Official Report, column 336, what proportion of those currently detained under Immigration Act powers have at some stage applied for bail to an independent adjudicator. [5404]

Information on the proportion of persons detained under Immigration Act powers who have at some stage applied for bail to an independent adjudicator can be obtained only by examination of individual case records. I regret that the information requested is, therefore, available only at disproportionate Cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much compensation has been paid out under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in each of the last five years; and how much he estimates will he paid in the current year. [5809]

The total compensation paid in each of the last five years is as follows:

• 1992–93: £152 million
• 1993–94: £165 million
• 1994–95: £175 million
• 1995–96: £179 million
• 1996–97: £211 million (subject to audit).

Vote provision for compensation in the current year is £214 million. We expect that provision to be taken up in full.

Member's name	Appointed	Qualifications/experience
Martin J. S. Axtell Esq.	7 March 1997	Solicitor, Higher Court Advocate and Recorder.
George H. Bardwell Esq. CBE	27 January 1997	Management consultant and former civil servant. Part time Chairman of the Civil Service Selection Board.
David Barker Esq. QC	1 February 1997	Barrister. [Member of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)]
Dr. Thelma Bates	27 January 1997	Consultant (retired) in clinical oncology. Chairman of GMC Health Committee.
W. Keith C. Beattic Esq.	27 January 1997	Group Personnel Director in private sector Member of Industrial Tribunals

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases under the Criminal injuries Compensation Scheme which were decided under the illegal tariff scheme remain to be reviewed. [5814]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been referred to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal Board, under the 1995 tariff scheme. [5810]

In the period 1 April 1996 to 24 June 1997, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel received 1,020 applications for appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were lodged with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in each of the last five years. [5812]

The number of applications received was as follows:

• 1992–93: 65,977
• 1993–94: 73,473
• 1994–95: 71,734
• 1995–96: 75,667
• 1996–97: 75,032 (subject to audit).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to determine an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme under the 1995 tariff scheme. [5811]

The 1996 tariff scheme started on 1 April 1996. In the first year of the scheme's operation, the Authority issued decisions in 75 per cent. of all cases within 8 months of the receipt of the application. 13,566 cases were completely resolved in the year, with the average time for resolution in those cases being 6 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme lodged prior to the introduction of the illegal tariff scheme remain to be determined. [5813]

The Board has informed me that some 5,700 cases registered prior to 1 April 1994 still await final resolution. Of these, 5,320 cases are appeals against the original decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names, dates of appointment, qualifications and relevant experience of members of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeal Panel. [5116]

The information requested is set out below.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of those asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers were first detained at a time when (a) their asylum claim had yet to be determined by the Home Office, (b) their appeal against a refusal of asylum had yet to be determined by an adjudicator or the immigration Appeal tribunal and (c) they had exhausted all appeal rights; [5412]

The available information on those persons recorded as detained under Immigration Act powers as at 31 May 1997, and who had sought asylum at some stage, is given in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons applying for asylum at ports of entry were detained under Immigration Act powers for one night or longer in each month of (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [5411]

The information requested is given in the table.

Number1 of persons who had applied for asylum on arrival in the United Kingdom and were placed into detention under Immigration Act powers2 3 1995 and 1996 by month
Month	1995	1996
January	155	140
February	140	135
March	160	150
April	185	130
May	135	125
June	175	150
July	155	155
August	145	160
September	145	200
October	185	145
November	165	145
December	195	150
Total	1,945	1,785
1 Provisional and estimated figures rounded to the nearest 5.
2 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971.
3 Includes those placed into detention on the day of their arrival in the United Kingdom, or the following day, but excludes those cases where detention length can be established as being less than one night in duration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the implications of the judgment by the European Court of Justice in the Singh Shingara case for rulings by his Department. [5395]

The implications of this judgment will be taken into account by the High Court when it resumes its consideration of Mr. Shingara's application for judicial review of the decision to exclude him from the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the estimated cost savings attributed by his Department to privately managed prisons is accounted for by (a) lower pay and shorter pay scales, (b) longer working hours, (c) less generous pension provision and (d) less generous provision in respect of sick pay and holidays; and which of these policies he proposes to introduce to the publicly managed Prison Service. [5803]

A research report published on 29 October 1996, a copy of which is in the Library, showed that on 1995–96 figures, prisons operated by the private sector are 11–17 per cent. cheaper than comparable prisons operated in the public sector. A further study is now under way, with the co-operation of contractors, to define in more detail how the private sector operators achieve lower operating costs. The work is not yet completed, and I will consider the implications of its findings when I receive the final report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) 9 June, Official Report, column 323, which organisations he (a) is consulting and (b) plans to consult, in relation to his review of the provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [5406]

We will consult widely before taking any decisions about the 1996 Act. A number of organisations have already given us their views.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the success of Europol in (a) detecting and (b) preventing the illegal movement and trade of nuclear materials. [5957]

The mandate of the Europol Drugs Unit to assist member states in tackling serious trans-national crime was extended to cover illicit trafficking in radioactive and nuclear substances in March 1995. Since then, the Unit has received only a small number of requests from member states for assistance in this area. The Unit has also undertaken strategic work on the threat to the European Union from this form of crime.The assistance which the Unit will be able to offer member states will be augmented on entry into force of the Europol Convention. A key change will be Europol's ability to pool and analyse intelligence in central databases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he plans to take to co-ordinate the work of voluntary organisations concerned with the prevention, detection and effects of crime with special reference to Victim Support and Crime Concern with those from the statutory authorities with special reference to the Safer Cities Project. [4810]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The Government are committed to reducing crime through the enhancement of local partnership arrangements. That is why we intend to create a statutory duty for local authorities and the police service jointly to ensure that the vital work of all key agencies—voluntary and statutory—is brought together locally within a co-ordinated multi-agency framework.The local community—which includes residents, voluntary organisations and the business community—will be involved in identifying local problems of crime and disorder and together will then draw up and implement plans to tackle those identified local problems.In this way, everyone's effort will be complementary, mutually supportive and, above all, better focused on local problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the balance held by each TEC at the end of 1996–97. [4290]

A list of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs), their surpluses and accumulated reserves, as shown in their audited annual statutory accounts, at the end of the financial year 1995–96 is shown in the following table. This is the most recent year for which information is available.TECs are allowed to generate surpluses and create reserves by subcontracting training at a lower unit price than that negotiated with the Department. Surpluses are used by TECs on activities in support of their corporate and business plan objectives which are agreed with the Government.TECs have provided further information which reports that the total reserves of almost £260 million comprised £51 million for investment in capital assets, £86 million for working capital and £123 million for discretionary expenditure. Of the sum available for discretionary expenditure, TECs report that £102 million was earmarked for planned expenditure in 1996–97 and beyond, for training, enterprise and economic regeneration initiatives.

TECs/CCTEs by region
	Post tax surplus/deficit 1995–96 £	Reserves 1995–96 £
Northern
Country Durham	(646,364)	6,413,585
Northumberland	475,842	6,511,028
Teesside	437,000	7,234,000
Tyneside	2,101,000	4,407,000
Sunderland (Wearside)	1,590,984	4,725,925
	3,958,462	29,291,538
Merseyside
CEWTEC	897,592	3,424,783
Merseyside	(2,867,096)	4,455,012
St. Helens	(293,520)	832,294
	(2,263,024)	8,712,089

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education colleges in England and Wales face budget reductions for the financial year 1997–98. [5330]

The Further Education Funding Council has determined final allocations for the academic year 1997–98 in respect of 227 colleges. 109 of these colleges have reduced allocations compared to their funding allocations at the start of 1996–97. 202 of these colleges have reduced allocations compared to their estimated out-turn for 1996–97. Final allocations have still to be made for the remaining 220 colleges.The responsibility for colleges in Wales lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education colleges in England and Wales are currently operating with a financial deficit. [5329]

Based on audited accounts for the academic year ending July 1996, the number of colleges in England with an operating deficit is 275. The total operating deficit involved is £112 million, equivalent to 2.9 per cent. of total income.The responsibility for colleges in Wales lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many students were enrolled in further education colleges in England and Wales during 1992–93; [5327]

The figures in table 1 below show the number of FE and HE students in further education colleges in England in the academic years, 1992–93 and 1996–97. In order to provide data on a comparable basis, the 1992–93 figure includes information for sixth form colleges which became part of the FE sector in April 1993. Information for 1996–97 is provisional.

Table 1: Number of students in further education colleges in England (thousands)
Academic year	Number of students in further education colleges1
1992–93	1,952.5
1996–97 (Provisional)	2,351.8

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what criteria he will employ in considering proposed mergers of further education colleges; and if continuity, choice and accessibility of courses will be essential requirements. [5277]

My right hon. Friend will normally consider proposed mergers on the basis of a formal proposal from the Further Education Funding Council for England. The Council assesses proposals against criteria which include the benefits to existing and future students in terms of access and choice. It is also a statutory requirement, contained in S.I. 1992 No. 2361, that public notices in respect of proposals shall include the educational provision to be made for those students who have not completed their courses at the time of the merger.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the effects of the incorporation of colleges and of the further education funding council system, particularly as regards areas served by a number of further education institutions. [5315]

My right hon. Friend expects the further education sector to continue to be funded by the Further Education Funding Council for England and for colleges to continue to be governed as independent institutions. In areas served by a number of colleges, he would welcome greater collaboration between them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the special advisers in his Department, the Minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5359]

I refer my hon. Friend to my replies given to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham on 10 June and 19 June, Official Report, cols. 369 and 258 respectively.Both of my advisers are employed under terms and conditions based on the model contract for Special Advisers. In accordance with Schedule 1 (part 1) of the model contract, Conor Ryan is advising me on press and policy presentation strategy; school standards; lifelong learning; University for Industry; information technology; Welfare to Work and the Education White Paper. Sophie Linden (part time) is advising me on Nursery and Primary (literacy and numeracy) education; Teacher training; Millennium volunteers; Young People/Pupil welfare and links with Parliament.Any additional provision will be directed at the development of employment and employability issues, together with specific support to me in dealing with confidential written material, reflecting the particular circumstances I face in undertaking my job on equal terms with my other ministerial colleagues.The Department employed two advisers in the year up to 1 May 1997.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many children in Gloucestershire are in full time education in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [5368]

In January 1997 (provisional estimates), the numbers of full time children in maintained primary and secondary schools in Gloucestershire Local Education Authority area were 46,152 and 34,961 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many primary school children in Gloucestershire have been taught in class sizes larger than 29 in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [5369]

Table 2: Numbers of classes and pupils by class size for classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in the Harrow Parliamentary Constituencies in January 1997 (Provisional Estimates)
	Size of class
	1–20		21–30		31–35		36–40		41 or more		Total
	Number of classes	Number of pupils	Number of classes	Number of pupils	Number of classes	Number of pupils	Number of classes	Number of pupils	Number of classes	Number of pupils	Number of classes	Number of pupils
Harrow West	23	321	181	5,073	57	1,818	0	0	0	0	261	7,212
Harrow East	20	291	256	7,031	58	1,845	0	0	0	0	334	9,167

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to review (a) the Further Education Funding Council's funding methodology and (b) its policy of funding convergence. [5325]

The report of a working group of the Further Education Funding Council on the funding methodology is due to be published shortly. The Council's announcement last month on funding convergence policy followed consultation with colleges earlier in the year.

The information requested is shown in the following table.

Numbers of pupils in one teacher classes of 30 or more in maintained primary schools in Gloucestershire Local Education Authority Area: 1988–1997
Position as at January	Number
1997 (provisional estimates)	19,630
1996	17,936
1995	15,975
1994	14,693
1993	13,172
1992	12,483
1991	12,054
1990	13,588
1989	13,468
1988	15,298

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the average and maximum numbers of children in primary school classes in (i) Harrow, East and (ii) Harrow, West; and how many are educated in class sizes of over 30 pupils. [5352]

The available information is shown in the following table.The information in Table 2 puts into context the information on maximum class sizes in Table 1.

Table 1: Average and maximum class size and number of pupils in classes of 31 or more pupils for classes taught by one teacher in maintained primary schools in the Harrow Parliamentary Constituencies in January 1997 (Provisional Estimates)
	Average class size	Maximum size class	Pupils in classes of 31 or more
Harrow West	27.6	35	1,818
Harrow East	27.4	35	1,845

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he intends to introduce a system of strategic planning into the further education sector, particularly in areas served by a number of colleges. [5314]

In order to assess whether it is fulfilling its statutory duties in respect of the provision of adequate and sufficient further education in England the Further Education Funding Council for England requests all further education sector colleges to produce strategic plans covering a three year period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what form the Government plans to replace DES Circular 909 in order to stop encouraging schools from selling their playing fields. [6080]

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 were replaced last year by the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996, which set out minimum areas of grassed playing field for all schools with pupils over 8 years old.We intend to make sure that those playing fields which schools and their local communities need are not sold in future.My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for the National Heritage are discussing this as a matter of urgency. We are looking at a wide range of options to ensure that all school pupils will have access to proper sports facilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will announce the allocation of credit approvals to local education authorities and of capital grant to the governors of voluntary aided schools. [6357]

I shall announce the allocation of £33 million of credit approvals to local education authorities under the 1997–98 round of the Schools Renewal Challenge Fund and £3.9 million of grant to governors of voluntary aided schools under the Voluntary Aided Schools Minor Works Challenge on Tuesday 1 July. Details of these allocations will be placed in the Library.