§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities for teaching and training are available in the Thorp Arch remand centre.
§ Mr. MellorEducation facilities are provided in a new purpose-built education centre staffed by a full-time education officer, two full-time teachers and 13 part-time teachers. Tuition is currently provided for 47 weeks a year in a wide range of subjects including basic literacy and numeracy, life skills, art and design, technical drawing and mathematics. A library located in the education unit with a stock of approximately 4,000 books is regularly available to inmates.
§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans any building work at the Thorp Arch remand centre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorMy right hon. and learned Friend announced in his reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Waller) on 5 June, at columns 157–58, that the role of the remand centre at Thorp Arch was to be changed to that of a category C prison. Consideration is at present being given to any building work necessary as a result of this change of role.
§ Mr. Batisteasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training facilities for staff are needed for the conversion of Thorp Arch remand centre into a category C prison.
§ Mr. MellorExisting facilities are sufficient for the governor to be able to offer the training necessary to prepare his staff for the conversion of Thorp Arch remand centre into a category C prison.