HC Deb 05 November 1996 vol 284 c437W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of setting up the boot camp at Thorn Cross; what is the cost per inmate; and what is the staffing ratio. [1669]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 5 November 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the cost of setting up the boot camp at Thorn Cross, the cost per inmate and the staffing ratio. The start up costs were about £1.75 million for construction and about £160,000 for other costs, mainly staff recruitment and training. The expected cost per inmate place for the current financial year, calculated by dividing the full year's anticipated running costs by the full inmate population, is £27,600. The personal officer to inmate ratio is 1:3.5.