asked Her Majesty's Government:How many prisoners have been transferred to special hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1959 since 20th March 1980 whilst they were on hunger strikes, or at the end of their sentences respectively; how many prisoners have been forcibly fed since that date, and of those, how many were considered by the consultant to have their capacity for rational judgement impaired by illness.

Of the prisoners transferred to special hospitals since 20th March 1980 none was recorded as refusing nourishment at the time of the transfer and 10 were transferred within three weeks of the date on which they were due to be released from prison. Since 20th March 1980 four prisoners have been artificially fed. In all four cases a psychiatrist from outside the prison medical service had confirmed the prison medical officer's opinion that the prisoner's capacity for rational judgement was impaired.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether prisoners with a complaint relating to alleged racial discrimination are allowed to commence proceedings against the prison authorities without first seeking permission from the same authorities.

Governors have been advised that any application by an inmate to a court which constitutes the institution of proceedings must be posted without delay. An inmate may write to a solicitor about a complaint against the prison authorities, provided that he has first raised the matter through internal procedures and has received a reply. This requirement is currently under review.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In how many closed prisons is evening association allowed and, within this number, in how many exercise period is reduced in accordance with Standing Order 6A-12h.

Evening association is generally allowed at closed training prisons. In local prisons opportunities for evening association are very limited because of the numbers of prisoners held therein and constraints on resources. There is no centrally held information on the number of prisons in which the exercise period is reduced for prisoners who are employed indoors and have evening association.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the meaning of the phrase "Rule 43 'subversive' prisoner" in Home Office Circular Instruction 10/1974, and in what respects such prisoners are treated differently from any others segregated for reasons of good order and discipline.

The phrase is an alternative expression used to denote prisoners segregated under Prison Rule 43 for the maintenance of good order and discipline, as distinct from those segregated in their own interests. It does not imply any separate category or different treatment.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish a table similar to that given in the reply to a parliamentary Question on 6th October, 1980, col. 176, giving sentenced prisoners in prison department establishments in England and Wales on 30th April 1981 by type of sentence and country of birth.

The information requested relating to 30th April 1981 is given in the following table:

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether the Home Secretary has received a report from the Chief Constable of Merseyside on the use of CS gas in Toxteth, Liverpool, on 6th July and whether he has issued guidelines governing any future use by the police in England and Wales of CS, and baton rounds, for dealing with serious public disorder.

My right honourable friend has received from the Chief Constable of Merseyside a full report of the inquiry conducted into the use of CS gas against rioters in Toxteth in the early hours of 6th July this year. A summary of that report, which the Chief Constable has given to the Merseyside Police Authority, is being placed in the Library of the House. This statement also sets out the guidelines which will govern any future use by the police in England and Wales of CS and baton rounds for dealing with serious public disorder.As to the use of CS in Toxteth on 6th July, we are in no doubt that in the circumstances which faced the police, the Chief Constable's decision to use CS—as a last resort—was necessary and justified. The police officers who had the responsibility of firing the CS did so in such a manner as to minimise the risk of injury occurring to members of the public as a result. All the known injuries were caused by "Ferret" CS cartridges fired from 12-bore shotguns, but in no instance were any such weapons aimed directly at individuals. These "Ferret" CS cartridges and the 12-bore shotguns were issued and used because at that time it was not known whether the other CS equipment available would be sufficient for all the officers employed. The Chief Constable fully acknowledges that "Ferret" CS cartridges should not be used again to deal with public disorder.The guidelines on the use of CS and baton rounds, which have been issued to chief officers of police, after consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales, take particular account of the lessons to be learned from the use of CS in Toxteth. The guidelines cover the following points:CS or baton rounds are to be used only with the express authority of the chief officer of police (or, in his absence, his deputy), under the direction and control of a senior officer whom he has designated as officer in charge, and by police officers who have been trained in the use of the equipment and know its characteristics.CS or baton rounds are to be used only as a last resort where conventional methods of policing have been tried and failed, or must from the nature of the circumstances obtaining be unlikely to succeed if tried, and where the chief officer judges such action to be necessary because of the risk of loss of life or serious injury or widespread destruction of property. Wherever practicable, a public warning of their use is to be given.Only CS equipment and baton rounds and riot guns of a type authorised by the Home Office may be used for these purposes. Nothing in the guidelines will affect the principle, to which Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 gives effect, that only the minimum force necessary in the circumstances must be used. The degree of force justified will vary according to the circumstances of each case.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

The latest available information based on 1980–81 income levels is as follows:—

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether, in view of the need to create employment in the national parks and for conservation purposes, encouragement will be given for the conversion of barns no longer required for occupation and use by animals, so that they may be occupied and used by people instead of such buildings becoming ruins and an eyesore in the countryside.

The Government is encouraging new uses for redundant agricultural buildings both in the National Parks and elsewhere. The Development Commission, and the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas, are funding and administering projects for the conversion of redundant farm buildings for industrial use. In 1980–81, CoSIRA received approval to spend some £125,000 on conversion projects, and they are also able to offer advisory, credit and training facilities.As regards control of development, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has already in Circular 22/80 asked local authorities to grant permission for the establishment of small businesses in redundant buildings, including farm buildings, unless there are specific and convincing planning objections. He would expect a similar approach towards proposals to convert such buildings to dwellings.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What action they propose to take arising from the evidence in the Home Office Research Study No. 68 on Ethnic Minorities in Britain that black workers are disproportionately employed in manual jobs and in manufacturing industry.

The Home Office Research Study has usefully brought together information and examined trends on the position of the ethnic minorities, but successive Governments have long been aware of the evidence relating to the distribution of the ethnic minorities within industry and within occupational groups, and have taken that into account, along with other relevant information, in reviewing employment policies.

asked Her Majesty's Government:What steps they are taking to ensure that herring caught in the waters newly reopened for fishing are not used for industrial purposes as long as any substantial demand for such herring for human food remains unsatisfied.

The management arrangements for fishing the herring stock have been deliberately designed, among other things, to ensure a phased supply of herring for human consumption. Supplies are diverted to industrial use only if the market for human consumption at reasonable prices has been satisfied.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are aware that there are 12 times more American than Russian diplomats based in Nicaragua; and what significance they read into that figure.

According to a list published by the Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry in July, 1981, there are 21 United States and 15 Soviet diplomatic staff in Managua.

asked Her Majesty's Government:If they will make a statement on the divestment of certain assets of the British Gas Corporation.

The Secretary of State for Energy issued a direction last week, under Section 7 of the Gas Act, instructing the British Gas Corporation to dispose of their stake in the Wytch Farm onshore oilfield. This needs to be seen in the context of the Government's overall plans for privatisation and competition in the oil and gas industries.First, the Government propose to introduce legislation to allow the transfer of the entire oil-producing business of the British National Oil Corporation to the private sector, with the state retaining only a minority stake. Secondly, the Government will also be seeking powers to privatise the British Gas Corporation's substantial offshore oil business.These powers will also enable the Gas Corporation to be required to dispose of its showrooms. As we have made clear, it is essential that safety standards are fully maintained. This will require complex safety legislation for which there is unlikely to be time in the coming session of Parliament. But the Government remain fully committed to breaking this monopoly as soon as practicable.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether it is true that a report has been produced which recommends that the offices of the DHSS in Liverpool and Manchester should be merged, and whether they will give an assurance that if this is done no jobs will be lost in Merseyside and that any centralisation will be based in that county.

A report by a team of Departmental officials entitled Traffic in Social Security Work Between DHSS Local and Regional Offices and Headquarters was completed in early September. (A copy has been placed in the Library.) The report contains a number of recommendations for streamlining the handling of social security business and improving cost-effectiveness by devolving certain work concerned with the administration of benefits from regional to local levels. These are being studied in detail and firm proposals for change will be brought forward in due course. The only decision which has been taken so far is to reduce the number of social security regions from 12 to seven. This decision was advanced in order that the process of combining the existing regions could be tied in with the retirement dates of regional controllers; the majority of those presently in post will be leaving the Civil Service between now and March 1983. At this level, as at all others, the intention is that any run-down of staff which may be necessary should be achieved through natural wastage.So far as the North-West is concerned, it has been decided to integrate Cumbria, at present part of Northern Region, into Merseyside Region in March 1982, and to merge that with Manchester Region in March 1983. The siting of the Headquarters of this new region will be a matter for detailed consultation within and between the existing regions, and my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services expects proposals to be put to him in due course. The merger is unlikely to mean the complete disappearance of either of the existing regional offices, since some functions will continue to be exercised from both. There will, however, be an overall reduction over a period of time of about a third in the number of staff employed in the two regional offices.House adjourned at quarter past ten o'clock.