HC Deb 15 June 1998 vol 314 cc70-1W
Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his officials have approved the Strategic Technologies' electronic tag system; and if it is currently in use. [45397]

Ms Quin

Strategic Technologies' system has not been approved by the Home Office for use in England and Wales.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of the test on the Strategic Technologies' electronic tag system. [45396]

Ms Quin

Strategic Technologies' design failed one element of the Home Office test. We understand that this is now being addressed by the manufacturer and that a new design may be submitted for acceptance testing in the near future.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any offenders who have been tagged during the current trials have had an allergic reaction to the conductive loop tag system;and what research has been carried out into the cause. [45400]

Ms Quin

We are not aware of any offender having an allergic reaction to the electronic monitoring equipment used during the current trials.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders who have been electronically tagged during the current trials have removed the tag without setting off the tamper alert mechanism; and what system was used. [45399]

Ms Quin

Of the 1,415 offenders tagged as of 8 June 1998, we are aware of three such cases. One was caused by an offender circumventing the strap of the equipment provided by Digital Products Corporation, which has since been withdrawn. The other cases were caused by critical medical information about the offender not being known to the contractor and an incorrect fitting.

Mr. Clappison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his officials have conducted into the reliability of the conductive loop electronic tag system. [45398]

Ms Quin

All electronic monitoring equipment in England and Wales is tested, prior to its authorisation for use, against the technical criteria specified by the Home Office.