HC Deb 11 May 1995 vol 259 cc554-5W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants who pleaded guilty to manslaughter were sentenced to detention in a secure mental hospital in each of the last 10 years: and for how long each of them was detained. [23525]

Mr. Michael Forsyth

[holding answer 10 May 1995]: Information on the plea entered by defendants is not available centrally for those sentenced to detention in a secure mental hospital. The following information is based on those restricted patients with a hospital order who were sentenced for manslaughter.

commencement of the disposal programme there were 17 RGHQs, 26 UKWMO group controls and 874 UKWMO monitoring posts.

The cost of construction of Chilmark and Ashdown Forest RGHQs, the only two purpose-built establishments, was approximately £2.1 million, in 1986, and £3 million, in 1989, respectively. Information relating to the cost of construction of all the other facilities either is not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The numbers designated to operate these facilities in the event of war would have ranged from two to three at the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation posts to the 60 at the United Kingdom Warning and Monitoring Organisation group controls and 150 at the larger RGHQs.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further assessment he has made of the implications on civil defence in the United Kingdom arising from the peace dividend; and if he will make a statement. [23169]

Mr. Nicholas Baker

Civil defence arrangements are made in the light of assessments of the risks faced by the United Kingdom. There has been no significant change in that assessment of risk since November 1992, when the present arrangements were set in place.