Written Answers of 18 November 1994

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Prisons (Home Leave)
  Mr. Hayes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department if he will announce the outcome of the review into the operation of the prison home leave and temporary release schemes; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Howard
  I have announced to the House today the outcome of the review into the operation of the prison home leave and temporary release schemes. Details of my decisions and copies of the report of the Prison Service working group have been placed in the Library.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Legal Advice Centre
  Sir Donald Thompson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's interim report on a legal advice unit for the holding centres.
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  Sir Patrick Mayhew
  I have today arranged for copies of Sir Louis Blom-Cooper's interim report on the proposal for a legal advice unit for the holding centres to be placed in the Library.

  I am grateful for the further work Sir Louis has undertaken to produce this report. The proposal for a legal advice unit will be studied carefully, and I shall, of course, seek the views of other interested parties.

TREASURY

  Statistical Office
  Mr. Matthew Banks
  To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has begun a review of the agency status of the Central Statistical Office.

  Mr. Nelson
  The status and organisation of all next steps agencies are required to be periodically reviewed. In accordance with these requirements, a review of the agency status of the Central Statistical Office—CSO—is now under way. The performance of the CSO will be evaluated and CSO activities will be subjected to the normal prior options tests set out in the 1993 "Next Steps Review"—Cm 2430.

  Comments and contributions from those with an interest in the CSO and its work would be welcome and should be sent by 30 December 1994 to John Pullinger, Central Statistical Office, Room 61/2, Great George street, London SW1P 3AQ.