HC Deb 30 November 1993 vol 233 cc391-2W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the time scale for the building of the proposed secure training centres; and where the centres are to be located.

Mr. Maclean

The creation of secure training centre places will start as soon as possible after the necessary legislation has been enacted. The Government have announced their intention to introduce such legislation in this Session of Parliament. No final decisions have been taken about where secure training centres will be located.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department intends to issue on the referral of juvenile offenders to the proposed secure training centres.

Mr. Maclean

The secure training order will be a sentence of the court. The statutory criteria for the order will be set out in the forthcoming criminal justice Bill.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how his Department will monitor and run the proposed secure training centres; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Secure training centres are to be provided by agreements with organisations from the public, private or voluntary sectors following a process of competitive tendering. A draft specification issued on 30 July to potential providers indicated the likely requirements of the type of regime operating in the centres. Arrangements for monitoring regimes in these centres will be included in legislation which I will shortly be introducing.