§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme since he answered a similar question from the hon. Member for Melton on 5 June 1980.
§ Mr. WhitelawWe have continued our policy of giving priority to the services responsible for the protection of the public.
The strength of the police service in England and Wales has grown by 3,700 in the past 12 months and now stands at 118,550. Outside London nearly all forces are at or near their approved complement. The review of public order legislation is proceeding. The legislation for the prevention of terrorism connected with Northern Irish affairs has been renewed for a further year, and we are continuing to promote international co-operation against terrorism.
We are increasing the number of detention centres which operate tougher regimes. Work is continuing, following recommendations in the report of the May committee of inquiry, on reviews of the design of prison regimes, attendance systems and associated conditions of service, prison industries, procedures for handling industrial relations, training and other proposals to which the report refers. Every effort is being made to make the best use of resources available to the prison service, particularly in improving the maintenance of the prison estate, and to press ahead with a continuing building programme of new prisons, involving two new starts each 444W year for the next three years; in addition, design work has been authorised for starts on a further two prisons after that period.
We have likewise sought to ensure that the resources available for the other parts of the criminal justice system are used to the best possible effect. With a view to alleviating the burden which traffic offences impose on the police and magistrates' courts, and reducing court delays, the Government have accepted in principle proposals for legislation to extend the fixed penalty system.
We have encouraged the greater use of non-custodial measures for dealing with offenders. The number of probation officers in field posts has increased from 4,854 on 31 March 1980 to 4,960 on 31 March this year. We have opened 11 new junior attendance centres and three new senior centres. We have brought forward, and this House has passed, legislation abolishing the suspected person offence, as recommended by the Select Committee on Home Affairs last year, and also reforming the law of attempt.
A White Paper on British Nationality Law was published in July 1980. The British Nationality Bill is at present before Parliament. We continue to work towards the achievement of good community relations, and equality of opportunity, in a multi-racial society. The inquiry by Lord Scarman into the events in Brixton in April, and my Department's inquiry into racial attacks and extremist organisations, will contribute to these objectives.
The Broadcasting Act 1980, which enables the Independent Broadcasting Authority to provide a fourth channel television service, has become law, and I have appointed the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority to provide programmes to be broadcast on the fourth channel in Wales and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission to consider complaints about programmes broadcast by the BBC and the IBA from 1 June this year. A new Royal charter has been granted to the British Broadcasting Corporation, valid for 15 years, and I have concluded with the corporation a licence and agreement for the same term which has been approved by the House of Commons.
In May I published the report of the study of the options for, and the implications of, direct broadcasting by satellite for the United Kingdom. In my foreword to the report I gave an indication of the way in which the Government consider that this complex and important subject might be developed. We intend to introduce a legalised citizens band service in the autumn. The Government have signed the Council of Europe convention on data protection and we have announced our intention of legislating on this subject.
Together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland I issued in June 1980 a Green Paper on future fire policy, summarising the results of a major Government study of the deployment of resources combat fire; work is now in hand on following up the various proposals in the light of the comments received. On 7 August 1980 I announced the outcome of a review of civil defence measures, with provision for increased expenditure in this field over the next few years.
I have recently announced a major reorganisation of the Home Office arrangements for research, planning arid scientific development. The Home Office continues to play its full part in the Government's plans to reduce civil service manpower and improve efficiency in the public service.