HC Deb 26 February 1986 vol 92 cc565-6W
Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders are currently detained in the Glen Parva young offenders centre; what are their ages; and what is the average and maximum period during which such offenders are kept in that centre.

Mr. Mellor

Information about the time spent in a particular establishment on remand or under sentence is not recorded centrally. The population of Glen Parva youth custody centre on 31 December 1985 is given by age in the table. The information available shows the average length of sentence of these 434 young offenders to be about 14 months. The longest sentence being served was 5 years detention under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Remission, parole and time served on remand would reduce the time served under sentence.

Population of Glen Parva yought custody centre on 31 December 1985: by age
Age Number
15 13
16 50
17 81
18 90
19 89
20 97
Age Number
21 14
Total 434

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to the estimated rate of recidivism among inmates released from the Glen Parva young offenders centre.

Mr. Mellor

Reconviction rates for youth custody trainees are not yet available.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed at the Glen Parva young offenders centre; what are their categories; and what is the total monthly cost of such staffing.

Mr. Mellor

The total number of staff employed by the Home Office at the Glen Parva youth custody centre and remand centre as at 1 February 1986 was 342, consisting of 253½ prison officer grades, 10 governor grades, 26½ administration grades, two doctors, five psychologists, 14 instructors, two chaplains, six other non-industrial grades and 23 industrial grades. The average monthly salary cost (including overtime, other allowances, and national insurance but excluding accommodation costs) for the current financial year is £420,145.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total weekly cost and what is the average cost per offender of feeding the inmates at the Glen Parva young offenders centre.

Mr. Mellor

It is estimated that in the financial year 1984–85 the average total weekly cost and the average weekly cost per inmate of feeding the inmates at Glen Parva youth custody centre and remand centre were £6,630 and £10.50 respectively. These figures cover, as well as the cost of the food itself, all other costs, including staff costs, associated with feeding the inmates.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current routine at the Glen Parva young offenders centre if an inmate wishes to see the doctor; and in what respects that routine has changed since the beginning of 1985.

Mr. Mellor

If an inmate at Glan Parva youth custody centre wishes to see the medical officer he is given an opportunity to do so. Screening procedures were introduced at the centre in October 1984 to enable inmates reporting sick but not seeking to see the medical officer to be assessed by a hospital officer for treatment involving non-prescription medicines.

Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of keeping an inmate at the Glen Parva young offenders centre in the hospital unit of that centre.

Mr. Mellor

The average weekly cost of keeping a person in Glen Parva youth custody centre and remand centre during the financial year 1984–85 was £234. Information is not available on the cost of keeping a person in particular locations within an establishment.