asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What is the training budget for the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform Programme, broken down by (a) initial training; (b) regular continuation training; and (c) training for capability additions. [HL3116]

The training budget for the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Bowman contract was awarded to General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd on a firm-price basis for the complete system, including initial conversion training, following a competitive tendering exercise. There was no requirement to provide discrete firm prices for the various elements of the Bowman Combat Infrastructure Platform (BCIP) programme.

BCIP continuation training will be delivered using existing military training establishments and schools, as well as new generic training facilities. Training for the less specialist courses at all levels has been absorbed into existing course syllabi by the appropriate arms and service directors. Consequently, the department is unable to break out specific BCIP training costs.

Training for capability additions will be an ongoing requirement throughout the in-service life of Bowman. For the next capability addition, BCIP5, General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd is contracted to develop the additional training material.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How much the Home Office has paid out in compensation to employees in each of the past five years. [HL2821]

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 6 March (WA 27).

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether a bailiff who repeatedly charges for work that has not been done commits a fraud within the meaning of Sections 1 to 5 of the Fraud Act 2006; and, if so, which sections of the Act apply; and whether it would be right for the police to claim that such an action is a civil and not a criminal matter. [HL2743]

A bailiff or any other person who dishonestly charges for work that has not been done will be committing an offence under the Fraud Act 2006. Section 1 of the 2006 Act contains the new general offence of fraud.

One means by which this offence can be committed is set out in Section 2, on fraud by false representation. This section applies where a person dishonestly makes a false representation and intends, by making the representation, to make a gain for himself or another, or cause a loss to another, or expose another to a risk of loss. It is also possible that, where a bailiff repeatedly charges for work that has not been done, this conduct will amount to fraudulent trading either under Section 9 of the 2006 Act or under the provisions on fraudulent trading in company legislation.

The decision on whether to investigate a crime rests solely with the police, who will take into account available resources, national and local policing priorities, the likely eventual outcome and the competing priorities of fraud and other criminal cases already under investigation. Such operational issues are a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether a person who represents himself to be a certificated bailiff, but is not, and by doing so obtains a payment or goods from a debtor, commits a fraud within the meaning of Sections 1 to 5 of the Fraud Act 2006; and, if so, which sections of the Act apply; and whether it would be right for the police to claim that such an action is a civil and not a criminal matter. [HL2744]

The Fraud Act 2006 created a new general offence of fraud. This can be committed by three means, one of which is by false representation. Fraud by false representation is set out in Section 2 of the Act. Where a person dishonestly makes a false representation and intends, by making the representation, to make a gain for himself or another, or cause a loss to another, or expose another to a risk of loss, that person will be committing an offence. A person who dishonestly represents to be a certificated bailiff, but is not, is likely to be committing an offence under this section. It will be necessary to show that the person was acting dishonestly in making the false representation, as well as that they intended to make a gain or cause a loss. It is immaterial whether they actually obtained a payment or goods from a debtor.

The decision on whether to investigate a crime rests solely with the police, who will take into account available resources, national and local policing priorities, the likely eventual outcome and the competing priorities of fraud and other criminal cases already under investigation. Such operational issues are a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether a person who represents himself to be a certificated bailiff, but is not, and intends by so doing to obtain a payment or goods from a debtor, commits a fraud within the meaning of Sections 1 to 5 of the Fraud Act 2006; and, if so, which sections of the Act apply; and whether it would be right for the police to claim that such an action is a civil and not a criminal matter. [HL2745]

The Fraud Act 2006 created a new general offence of fraud. This can be committed by three means, one of which is false representation. Fraud by false representation is set out in Section 2 of the Act. Where a person dishonestly makes a false representation and intends, by making the representation, to make a gain for himself or another, or cause a loss to another, or expose another to a risk of loss, that person will be committing an offence. A person who dishonestly represents himself to be a certificated bailiff, but is not, is likely to be committing an offence under this section. It will be necessary to show that the person was acting dishonestly in making the false representation, as well as that they intended to make a gain or cause a loss.

The decision on whether to investigate a crime rests solely with the police, who will take into account available resources, national and local policing priorities, the likely eventual outcome and the competing priorities of fraud and other criminal cases already under investigation. Such operational issues are a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether bailiffs who illegally obtain entry to a debtor’s premises with the intent of obtaining payment from a debtor, or of taking possession of goods, commit a fraud within the meaning of Sections 1 to 5 of the Fraud Act 2006; and, if so, which sections of the Act apply; and whether it would be right for the police to claim that such an action is a civil and not a criminal matter. [HL2746]

The basic rule regarding the powers of entry for bailiffs is that there is a right of entry that may be exercised into any relevant premises. In circumstances where a bailiff illegally obtains entry to a debtor’s premises, their conduct will amount to fraud only if they dishonestly, and with the intent to make a gain or to cause a loss, make a false representation, fail to disclose information or abuse their position. While an illegal entry may be made with the intention of making a gain or causing a loss, it may well not involve the other elements necessary to commit a fraud.

The decision on whether to investigate a crime rests solely with the police, who will take into account available resources, national and local policing priorities, the likely eventual outcome and the competing priorities of fraud and other criminal cases already under investigation. Such operational issues are a matter for the chief officer of the force concerned.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they will provide a breakdown of those recordable offences entered on the police national computer committed in each of the last five years by the nationality of the offender. [HL2824]

Not all the records on the police national computer include the nationality of the offender. A five-year breakdown of those that do include nationality could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What representations they have received from other states, non-governmental organisations and individuals about British citizens or residents travelling overseas for the sexual abuse of minors or for the production of pornography since the coming into force of the Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act 1996; and how they have responded to such representations. [HL2752]

Enforcement of the law and intelligence gathering about sex offenders is an operational matter for the police. Any information received by the Government about British citizens or residents travelling abroad to abuse children would be brought to the attention of the police for their consideration.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many convictions there have been by United Kingdom courts of British citizens or residents for sexual offences committed overseas in each year since 1996. [HL2754]

Section 72 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and Section 16B of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 make it an offence in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland for a British citizen or United Kingdom resident to commit certain acts overseas against a child under 16 (or, in the case of Northern Ireland, under 17).

Because offences are pursued, and therefore recorded, under the United Kingdom equivalent offence, it is not possible to provide statistics for the use of Section 72.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received from the Metropolitan Police any assessment of the costs and benefits of the provisions of Sections 132 to 138 (“Demonstrations in vicinity of Parliament”) of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. [HL2796]

Sections 132 to 138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 are the response to the recommendation of the House of Commons Procedure Committee that the Government should introduce appropriate legislation to prohibit long-term demonstrations and ensure that the laws about access to Parliament are adequate and enforceable. They provide a framework for the commissioner to authorise and consider the management of all demonstrations notified to him in advance in the defined area. This replaces the former requirement laid on him by the sessional order to make sure that passageways to and from Parliament were kept free of obstruction and that no obstruction was allowed to hinder passage of the Lords and Members to and from the House.

Each demonstration is different and has to be risk assessed, and where required a policing operation is put into place. We have not sought an overall cost-benefit assessment.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 1 February (WA 74), whether they will use their veto in the Council of Ministers to ensure that Holocaust denial is not made a criminal offence in the United Kingdom. [HL2536]

The Government do not intend to make Holocaust denial a criminal offence in the United Kingdom. The Government deplore attempts to deny the Holocaust, including those views expressed in a pseudo-intellectual manner. We understand why some European countries, because of their particular histories, have expressly legislated against Holocaust denial, but successive Governments have taken the view that criminalising Holocaust denial in the UK would represent an unnecessary infringement of freedom of expression. It is of course the case that, if Holocaust denial is expressed in a way that is threatening, abusive, or insulting and incites racial hatred, or is likely to do so, then that would be unlawful under the Public Order Act 1986.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether any prosecutions have been brought or convictions obtained under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003. [HL3024]

There have been no prosecutions under the 2003 Act. However, educating communities to abandon the practice is the best way forward to break the cycle of mutilation, and the Act is being widely used for that purpose.

There have been no prosecutions or convictions under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 in Northern Ireland. The latest available data that the NIO has are for 2004.

There are no records of prosecutions for female genital mutilation on the Scottish Executive Justice Department’s database.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many National Health Service acute trusts in England no longer provide an out-of-hours chaplaincy and spiritual care service; and what alternative arrangements are being made to provide specialist support for the dying in trusts which have discontinued a 24-hours chaplaincy service. [HL2987]

The department does not collect data on National Health Service hospital chaplaincy.

The department remains committed to the guidance NHS Chaplaincy: Meeting the Religious and Spiritual Needs of Patients and Staff, issued to NHS trusts in November 2003 about patients' access to spiritual care, irrespective of their faith or beliefs.

NHS trusts are responsible for delivering religious and spiritual care in a way that meets the diverse needs of their patients. How they do so is a matter for local determination.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Which primary care trusts have imposed restrictions on National Health Service dental activities as a result of budgetary pressure; and what restrictions have been imposed by each primary care trust. [HL3123]

Primary care trusts (PCTs) award dental providers an annual contract value, payable in equal monthly instalments, in return for an agreed level of service. A PCT can subsequently reduce that contract value only with the agreement of the dental provider or if the agreed service levels are not delivered by the provider. The commissioning of any additional service levels over and above the original contract value is at the discretion of the PCT. The department does not monitor service and contract discussions between PCTs and individual dental providers. PCTs, as the commissioning bodies, are responsible for the management of dental services locally.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have commissioned any studies similar to the recent study by the University of Albany entitled Increased rate of hospitalisation for diabetes and residential proximity of hazardous waste sites; if so, whether they show a statistically significant link between the incidence of diabetes and proximity to hazardous waste sites; and, if not, whether they have plans to commission such a study. [HL3084]

No research similar to the recent study by the University of Albany has been commissioned and there are no current plans to commission such a study.

asked the Chairman of Committees:

What arrangements are being made within the precincts of the House of Lords to enable Members and staff to continue to smoke in premises which comply with the smoking provisions of the Health Act 2006. [HL3250]

The Administration and Works Committee published a report on 21 March recommending to the House that smoking should be prohibited in all parts of the parliamentary estate occupied by the House of Lords except within specified locations in Black Rod’s Garden, State Officers’ Court and Peers’ Inner Court, and in an area at the end of the Lords Terrace abutting the Commons Terrace.

The committee recognises that such a significant change in smoking policy should be a matter for the whole House. Accordingly, the report will be debated in the House in due course.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How many asylum seekers are currently detained (a) in the immigration detention estate, and (b) in HM prisons; and what progress they have made in honouring commitments made in 1998 and 2002 to phase out the use of prison accommodation for asylum seekers. [HL2942]

As at 30 December 2006, there were 1,320 asylum applicants, including dependants, detained solely under Immigration Act powers. This figure is rounded to the nearest five and excludes persons detained in Prison Service establishments, police cells and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers.

As a result of a change in working practices in IND, statistics on persons detained in Prison Service establishments solely under Immigration Act powers have not been available since the second quarter of 2006. Currently and over forthcoming months, we are working on analysis of data sources held by IND and the National Offender Management Service to formulate a robust collation method for production of these statistics in future.

The routine use of Prison Service accommodation for detaining asylum seekers for immigration purposes ceased in January 2002. It was also made clear in 2002 that there would continue to be a need to use Prison Service accommodation for individual detainees where this was necessary for reasons of security or control. That position remains and where necessary it will apply to those who may have applied for asylum at some time, especially where an asylum seeker has committed a criminal offence and is subject to deportation action.

Statistics on the number of persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter is published in the quarterly asylum bulletins. The latest published information pertains to people detained as at 30 December 2006 and is published on the Home Office’s Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What instructions are given to immigration officers, police and other persons in official capacities to ensure, following the forcible removal from their homes of families of failed asylum seekers, that the property is secured and that they are able to take with them to the place of detention items such as medicines, toiletries, baby food and feeding items, children’s personal belongings and mobile phones. [HL3018]

Chapter 58 of the Operational Enforcement Manual (OEM), which is publicly available on the IND website www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/policyinstructions/oem, instructs officers to allow the family sufficient time to dress, pack, use bathroom facilities and feed very young children.

On-site healthcare is available at every removal centre and it is a matter for the healthcare team to judge whether it is appropriate for detainees to keep medication in their possession. Detainees must be allowed to keep other items in their possession save where it is contrary to the interests of safety or security or is incompatible with the personal storage facilities provided. Detainees must also be allowed to retain mobile phones provided that they do not have photo or global positioning roaming satellite facilities. The centre also holds property on behalf of detainees and this is returned when they leave the centre.

Families with children are accommodated in family units. Parents with young children are supplied with essential items for their care, including toiletries, bottle-warming and sterilising equipment.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What instructions are given to immigration officers, police and other persons in official capacities to ensure, following the forcible removal from their homes of families of failed asylum seekers, that they are able to take all their belongings with them to the country to which they are being deported. [HL3019]

Chapter 41 of the Operational Enforcement Manual (OEM), which is publicly available on the IND website, www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/policyinstructions/oem, provides information on the retrieval of personal effects, including baggage allowances.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What instructions are given to immigration officers, police and other persons in official capacities to ensure, following the forcible removal from their homes of families of failed asylum seekers, that their friends, relatives and legal representatives in the United Kingdom have information at all times on where they are being held and how they can be contacted by letter and telephone. [HL3020]

When a family detention visit takes place, officers inform that family that they can contact legal representatives, friends or relatives once they are at the detention centre.

Detainees are advised of their right to legal representation, and how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of arrival at a removal centre. It is a matter for the detainee to contact his legal representative, relatives or friends about his whereabouts or any other matter. Where a detainee has no funds to allow him to correspond or phone his legal representative, family or friends, he will be given the funds to do so.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

In respect of the Home Office, (a) on how many occasions in the last year malicious programs have compromised departmental computer systems; and, for each occasion, how many machines were affected; how long it took to remove the programs from the system; and what was the impact on the department’s activities; (b) what penetration tests of information systems have been carried out over the last year and what were the results, indicating in each instance whether the tests were carried out independently of the providers of the system concerned; and (c) on how many occasions in the last year the departmental management team has considered information risk. [HL2476]

In the last year there have been two recorded instances of malicious programs compromising Home Office computer systems. On both occasions, only a single machine was affected. The record does not state how long it took to remove in either case. As only individual machines were affected, the impact on the department’s activities was minimal.

As part of the continuing development and maintenance of our systems, a number of penetration tests and health checks are carried out by our IT service providers and by independent third parties. This testing is focused both on areas where changes are being implemented and on existing systems that are in maintenance.

Information risk is constantly being considered by Home Office management. The department has a senior information risk owner, who sits on the Home Office board, a team of IT accreditors and an information and records management team, all of whom monitor and manage information risks.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they will take steps to enable an inquiry to be held into the need for a major gas pipeline to cross the Brecon Beacons National Park. [HL3211]

Approval for the natural gas pipeline from Filindre to Tirley was given on 7 February 2007 and work has started. Before giving approval, the Secretary of State took into account the environmental and other aspects of the pipeline, including the impact on the Brecon Beacons National Park. Our consideration identified no reason to refuse to give approval for the construction of the pipeline or to hold an inquiry before doing so.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 22 March, how they are able to provide precise estimates of construction costs for the various Olympic stadia without completed architects' designs and quantity surveyors' estimates; and when such designs and estimates will be available. [HL2959]

The funding for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games announced on 15 March was based on a rigorous review of costs, which included analysis of the costs of individual venues based on detailed quantity surveyor's estimates drawn from design commitments and capacities stipulated in the candidature file. All initial estimates included contingency to allow for the impact of potential design changes.

In some cases, the procurement process has already commenced and it has been possible to corroborate those estimates. As a result, some venues have more detailed designs and cost estimates than those which will be procured later in the process.

Further design details will be made available as plans develop, although final cost estimates for each venue will not be published as this could prejudice current and future commercial negotiations.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 14 March (WA 136), what steps are being taken to remove from the grass area of Parliament Square Garden the tents which have been erected without the permission required under the Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square Garden By-laws 1999; and what action is to be taken to prevent the erection of additional tents. [HL2933]

Removal of the tents from the grass area of Parliament Square Garden and the prevention of the erection of additional tents are matters for the Greater London Authority, which manages Parliament Square Garden under the GLA Act 1999.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether there are adequate toilet facilities for the occupants of the tents erected on the grass area of Parliament Square Garden; and [HL3085]

What proportion of the grass area of Parliament Square Garden is now unavailable to the general public as a result of the tents erected on that site. [HL3086]

Parliament Square Garden is managed by the Greater London Authority (GLA) under the GLA Act 1999. I understand that the tents erected on Parliament Square Garden without the permission that is required under the Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square Garden by-laws occupy approximately 25 square metres of the grass area of the square, which equates to approximately 1 per cent of the total grass area unavailable to the general public.

I further understand that, in any event, finding proper toilet facilities is a matter for those demonstrating.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether steps are being taken to eliminate the loss of United Kingdom passports delivered by Secure Mail Services, which reported 740 such losses during 2006. [HL2929]

The nature of the current arrangements made for the delivery of passports with Secure Mail Services allows the Identity and Passport Service to investigate the audit trail for each instance of loss. Where appropriate, procedures are improved following investigation.

Various technology and process improvement solutions are being considered to ensure that deliveries are made to the correct address as well as capturing data on delivery details at the time of delivery, thus ensuring a further reduction in losses by misposting. Further initiatives are also being prepared to reduce errors in the captive of address data from passport application forms.

To reduce losses by theft from couriers and their vehicles, courier routes are varied and additional security for vehicles, including double manning where required, is employed.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a new passport delivered by Secure Mail Services has to be handed to the person to whom it is addressed; and, if so, what checks are carried out to confirm the identity of that person prior to the passport being handed over to the person in question. [HL2930]

The current delivery arrangements for passports do not require that the passport be handed to the addressee. Most first-time deliveries are made without a signature being obtained, but where one is required it does not need to be that of the addressee.

Signatures are required for deliveries to certain postcodes where there is a known risk of loss or fraud. In other areas couriers will usually try to obtain a signature if someone is at home, but this is not mandatory. Where there are concerns on the part of the courier as to the security of the delivery due to, for example, a communal letterbox, then a signature is required.

Evidence of identity is required for a redelivery. While the addressee is not required to be present, the recipient of the package needs to provide evidence of the addressee's residence at the address, such as a utility bill or driving licence. Signatures are always required for redeliveries.

In delivering passports, the Identity and Passport Service attempts to balance the requirements for high levels of security, affordability/value for money and customer service. The current arrangements strike a balance between these demands and have seen an 80 per cent reduction in passport losses in the delivery process compared to the previous arrangements, which utilised first-class mail. The IPS continues to work closely with SMS to further reduce losses and improve quality of service.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether a person who is found to have applied for or obtained a United Kingdom passport by fraud or under false pretences is prevented from obtaining a United Kingdom passport thereafter. [HL2931]

This depends on the circumstances of the fraud or false pretences. Prior criminal activity is not a bar to a British citizen holding a passport in their true identity, but a person who had falsified a claim to British citizenship would not be eligible for a British passport.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prosecutions have taken place in each of the last five years for offences relating to the obtaining of United Kingdom passports by false pretences; and in how many of these cases a conviction was secured. [HL2932]

The figures recorded by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) for the number of prosecutions known to have been made against individuals who have fraudulently applied for passports, and convictions secured as a result of those prosecutions, are given below.

Prosecutions

Convictions

2002

5

-

2003

16

-

2004

54

-

2005-06

22

12

-

2006-07

75

55

It should be noted that the IPS does not routinely receive feedback from the police or prosecution authorities on cases of passport fraud which are referred to them. The figures given above are therefore likely to be a significant under-representation of the number of prosecutions brought and convictions secured. The IPS is working with the police and prosecution authorities to develop a more effective feedback mechanism. The figures collated by the IPS prior to 2005 do not distinguish between successful and unsuccessful prosecutions.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have any evidence of the trafficking of children and young people from west African countries to Britain; if so, what preventive action they are taking; and whether they will promote concerted international efforts to lessen this trafficking. [HL2988]

The Government are aware of cases where children have been trafficked from west African countries to Britain. The Government are determined to tackle this gross abuse of children, as demonstrated in the Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, which was published on 23 March 2007.

The action plan aims to prevent human trafficking from source countries by taking forward a range of measures that actively seek to address the vulnerabilities of certain communities to trafficking. The Government acknowledge that their work with international partners will play a key part in maximising the impact of the action plan. More details about the action plan can be found on the Home Office website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/human-traffick-action-plan.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How many prisoners were unlocked on the morning of 13 March in (a) HM Prison Pentonville; (b) HM Prison Nottingham; (c) HM Prison Wymott; (d) HM Prison Acklington; (e) HM Prison Wayland; and (f) HM Prison Erlestoke. [HL2702]

We publish monthly figures on the population in each prison establishment. The most recent published figures show that on 31 January 2007 there were (a) 1,124 prisoners in HMP Pentonville; (b) 552 prisoners in HMP Nottingham; (c) 1,043 prisoners in HMP Wymott; (d) 850 prisoners in HMP Acklington; (e) 701 prisoners in HMP Wayland; (f) 422 prisoners in HMP Erlestoke. This information is obtainable from table 4 at the following website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/prisjan07.pdf.

These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How many prisoners are currently employed on administrative tasks such as cleaning or food production and serving in (a) HM Prison Pentonville; (b) HM Prison Nottingham; (c) HM Prison Wymott; (d) HM Prison Acklington; (e) HM Prison Wayland; and (f) HM Prison Erlestoke; and [HL2704]

How many prisoners are currently enrolled in education courses in (a) HM Prison Pentonville; (b) HM Prison Nottingham; (c) HM Prison Wymott; (d) HM Prison Acklington; (e) HM Prison Wayland; and (f) HM Prison Erlestoke; and [HL2705]

How many prisoners are currently on training courses other than education courses, including during treatment, in (a) HM Prison Pentonville; (b) HM Prison Nottingham; (c) HM Prison Wymott; (d) HM Prison Acklington; (e) HM Prison Wayland; and (f) HM Prison Erlestoke; and [HL2706]

How many prisoners are currently unemployed in (a) HM Prison Pentonville; (b) HM Prison Nottingham; (c) HM Prison Wymott; (d) HM Prison Acklington; (e) HM Prison Wayland; and (f) HM Prison Erlestoke.[HL2707]

The information requested is set out in the table.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether they have plans to accommodate prisoners in freight containers; if so, whether these would be insulated and provided with windows; and how many prisoners would be housed in a standard 20-foot-long container under these plans. [HL2853]

There are no plans to use freight containers to accommodate prisoners.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

In what circumstances relations of victims of violent crime are notified if the person found guilty is released on any type of parole. [HL2919]

Under the provisions of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, local probation boards in England and Wales have a statutory duty to take all reasonable steps to offer the victims of offenders convicted of a sexual or violent offence (and sentenced to a custodial sentence of 12 months or more) an option to receive certain information.

Where victims have consented to receive certain information, the local probation board must inform a victim whether an offender is to be subject to any licence condition or supervision on release and details of any licence conditions or supervision requirements that relate to contact with the victim. The board must also provide the victim with certain other information, including whether or not an offender’s application for parole has been successful.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How much HM Prison Service spent on (a) television sets; (b) radios or compact disc players; (c) mobile phones; (d) Sony PlayStations; and (e) all other forms of electronic game consoles for use by prisoners in each of the last three financial years. [HL2822]

The Prison Service spent the following amounts on in-cell television sets in the last three years: 2005-06 £763,472; 2004-05 £1,008,819; and 2003-04 £1,107,190.

Public funds are not used to support the purchase of television sets used in cells. These costs are covered by the weekly rental paid by prisoners for the use of the sets. Some prisons may purchase radios or compact disc players, and Sony PlayStations, from surplus funds generated from prisoner-related activities. The details of these purchases are not held centrally and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Radios or compact disc players, and Sony PlayStations and all other forms of electronic game consoles, may be bought by prisoners from their own money.

Prisoners are not allowed to purchase mobile phones.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

Whether the 8,000 new prison spaces announced recently will be financed out of existing resources or whether additional funds will be allocated. [HL3140]

The 8,000 new places will be financed from capital funds that have already been earmarked for the prison capacity programme.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

For each prison in England and Wales, including contracted-out prisons, what is the current shortfall in prison officers; and, in each case, what is the shortfall as a percentage of the stated optimum level for each prison. [HL2823]

The latest available information on the shortfall of officers at each prison establishment against the operational staffing requirement is contained in the following tables. The shortfalls incorporate the contribution of contracted supplementary hours.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

What recent discussions they have had with the Metropolitan Police concerning the matters surrounding the death of Alexander Litvinenko and their implications; and what was the outcome. [HL3048]

I refer the noble Lord to the response provided to the Chamber on 26 February 2007. The Metropolitan Police continue to liaise with Russian investigators concerning Mr Litvinenko’s death, but, as this remains an ongoing investigation, I am unable to disclose any further information at this stage.

asked Her Majesty’s Government:

How much time juveniles spend in outdoor exercise each day in Werrington young offender institution. [HL1767]

Scheduled access to the fresh air at Werrington is reflected in the published core day during movement to and from the trainees’ activity, which occurs four times per day and provides a period of 15 minutes each time. More specific data are not kept by Werrington on how much outdoor exercise each young person receives daily. However, there is a gym and an extensive sports field that are used by the trainees mainly at weekends and on a seasonal basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many juveniles were held in segregation in Lancaster Farms young offender institution in each month since January 2005; and how many have been held for more than seven days and for more than 28 days; and [HL1762]

How many juveniles were held in segregation in Warren Hill young offender institution in each month since January 2005; and how many have been held for more than seven days and for more than 28 days; and [HL1763]

How many juveniles were held in segregation in Stoke Heath young offender institution in each month since January 2005; and how many have been held for more than seven days and for more than 28 days; and [HL1764]

How many juveniles were held in segregation in Thorn Cross young offender institution in each month since January 2005; and how many have been held for more than seven days and for more than 28 days. [HL1765]

The information on segregation is provided by each individual establishment from its records and is contained in the attached tables.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many juveniles were held in segregation in Ashfield young offender institution in each month since January 2005; and how many have been held for more than seven days and for more than 28 days. [HL1766]

The information requested is provided in the tables below.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to assist young offenders on release from custody; and what specific steps they are taking to protect them from the risks of becoming homeless and reoffending. [HL2755]

The Youth Justice Board (YJB) published its youth resettlement framework for action in 2006. The framework focuses on developing the key resettlement pathways including health, education, training and employment and substance misuse. The YJB has rolled out resettlement and aftercare provision schemes (RAPS) in over 50 youth offending team (YOT) areas, providing planned resettlement activities for young offenders in custody and in the community. The YJB also published its accommodation strategy in November 2006. Critically, the strategy looks to ensure that young offenders have adequate access to accommodation services by improving the organisation of YOTs. The strategy has supported work to phase out the provision of unsupported bed and breakfast accommodation for 16 and 17 year-olds. It also makes the prevention of family breakdown and homelessness a key priority for the youth justice system.