§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement on the future of the training centre network and the measures which he proposes to introduce.
§ Mr. AtkinsResponsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J S Crozier to Mr. Andrew Hunter, dated 15 January 1993:
You have asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a sstatement on the future of the Training Centre network and the measures he proposes to introduce.
The development, management and administration of the Training Centre network, lies within the responsibility 171W of the Training and Employment Agency (T&EA). As Chief Executive of the Agency I have been asked by the Secretary of State to reply on his behalf.
Training Centres are an important source of craft level training in Northern Ireland. I envisage a continuing need for the services they provide in the foreseeable future.
The Agency has been conducting an internal review of the Training Centres to identify what action should be taken to ensure they are managed efficiently and cost effectively. We are currently conducting a feasibility study on the market testing of Centres. I expect that study to be complete by April 1993 with a view to a market test being initiated shortly afterwards. Proposals concerning the future of Training Centres will be formulated when these exercises are complete.
1992 July August September October November December Number of searches Total number of searches carried out 29 41 44 32 38 42 Total number of inmates searched 22 27 32 19 25 20 Number of prisoners searched once 17 19 22 12 12 2 Number of prisoners searched twice 4 7 8 5 13 15 Number of prisoners searched more than twice 1 1 2 2 0 3 Reason for search First admission on remand/awaiting trial 8 7 14 2 10 1 First admission on sentence/final discharge 8 10 10 9 7 7 Attending trial 0 0 1 0 0 0 Inter prison visit 4 3 4 3 2 7 Pre-release home leave 9 18 11 16 12 25 Compassionate home leave 0 2 2 2 4 0 Visits to outside hospital 0 0 2 0 0 0 Attendance at court for bail 0 0 0 0 1 2 Bail granted 0 1 0 0 2 0 No prohibited articles were found during these searches and no prisoners refused to be searched.