Portland Young Offenders Institution (Hansard, 26 June 2000)

§ Jackie Ballard
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff who work in the juvenile wing at Portland Young Offenders Institution have training in dealing with adolescents. [127426]

§ Mr. Boateng
There are 48 staff who work in the under 18 unit at Portland. Of these, 46 have been trained in dealing with adolescents. The two remaining staff will be trained in September.

§ Jackie Ballard
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if slopping out has been ended in Portland Young Offenders Institution. [127415]

§ Mr. Boateng
Slopping out has ended at Portland. There are two wings in which the cells are too small to accommodate integral sanitation. An electronic unlocking system gives prisoners access to toilet facilities during the night. They are provided with chamber pots in case a fault occurs with the electronic system.

§ Jackie Ballard
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles have been sent to Portland Young Offenders Institute since 1 April. [127419]

§ Mr. Boateng
[holding answer 23 June 2000]: Since 1 April this year, a total of 93 prisoners aged under 18 have been sent to Portland.

§ Jackie Ballard
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the number of places designated for juveniles in Portland Young Offenders Institute was reduced in May. [127418]

§ Mr. Boateng
[holding answer 23 June 2000]: Since 1 April this year, Portland has provided 130 places for prisoners aged under 18. This has not changed. It was originally proposed to provide 134 places, but this was reduced to provide four "calming rooms" where refractory young prisoners could be placed in preference to moving them to the segregation unit.

§ Jackie Ballard
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fully trained prison officers are on duty at night in Portland Young Offenders Institute. [127417]

§ Mr. Boateng
[holding answer 23 June 2000]: There are a total of 11 staff on night duty at Portland; one senior officer and two officers, who are supported by eight operational support staff. All staff on duty at night are fully trained according to the requirements of their respective grades.