HC Deb 24 January 1994 vol 236 cc58-60W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for each of the last three years for which figures are available, how many residents of Dover bail hostel were(a) aged under 17 years, (b) aged 17 to 21 years and (c) aged 21 years and over.

Mr. Maclean

The figures for individual years are not readily available. However, the total number in each category over the last three years is (a) 0, (b) 134, (c) 146.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital and revenue expenditure will be available for hostel provision in the Kent area for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

Mr. Maclean

Revenue grant for 1994–95 and 1995–96 will be about £200,000 a year. Capital grant will depend on the scrutiny of spending proposals submitted by all probation areas.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the latest year available, how many people were remanded in Dover bail hostel; and how many were(a) black males and (b) black females.

Mr. Maclean

This information is not held centrally and is not readily available.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are likely to be made redundant in the event of the closure of the Dover bail hostel; and what would be the financial costs.

Mr. Maclean

It will be for the Kent probation committee as employer to decide how to handle the consequences of closure in terms of redeployment or redundancies; we have not yet received a full account of its conclusions.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people might be remanded into custody per annum as a result of the closure of Dover bail hostel in Kent.

Mr. Maclean

It is for the courts to decide who should be remanded in custody. There are approved hostel facilities available to them in the same or neighbouring probation areas.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the annual saving as a result of the closure of the Dover bail hostel in Kent.

Mr. Maclean

We expect the saving to be in the order of £100,000 in 1994–95 and £200,000 in 1995–96.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were either rearrested and charged or breached for failure to comply with requirements at the Dover bail hostel for the last 10 quarters for which statistics are available.

Mr. Maclean

The quarterly figures are not readily available. However, over the last three years a total of 16 residents were rearrested and charged with other offences; and breach proceedings were taken against 94 residents for failure to comply with hostel requirements.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the average cost of a weekly place in the Dover bail hostel, (b) the average length of stay and (c) what was the average cost of a person remand place in the Kent area.

Mr. Maclean

(a) The current weekly cost is £269. (b) This information is not readily available in the form requested. (c) Figures showing the average cost of a prison remand place alone are not available. The current average cost of a place at the three local prison establishments that cover a multi-functional role, of which remand is a part, is £398 per place per week.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the occupancy rate of the Dover bail hostel for each of the last 10 quarters.

Mr. Maclean

The occupancy figures for the period April 1991 to March 1992 are not available in a quarterly form. The figures from April 1992 to September 1993 are detailed:

Per cent.
April 1992 to June 1992 61
July 1992 to September 1992 68
October 1992 to December 1992 55
January 1993 to March 1993 57
April 1993 to June 1993 52
July 1993 to September 1993 50

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be consulted about the proposed closure of the Dover bail hostel in Kent.

Mr. Maclean

The Kent probation service was notified on 1 December of our closure proposals and given the opportunity to comment.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital expenditure was planned for the Dover bail hostel prior to the Home Office statement of 30 November.

Mr. Maclean

A proposal for capital expenditure on the Dover bail hostel was under consideration by my officials prior to the 30 November statement, but it was not formally approved.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in the event of the closure of the Dover bail hostel, what advice would be given to the magistrates courts regarding any future bail hostel remands.

Mr. Maclean

It is for the Kent probation service to bring to the attention of magistrates courts the facilities offered by approved hostels in its own or in neighbouring areas.