§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the running of the Canning House probation hostel, Liverpool; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorYes, we are satisfied in general with the way in which Canning House probation hostel is being run. I am aware of the incident which has prompted the hon. Member to ask this question and of the concern and alarm which it has caused to those living near the hostel. It was an isolated occurrence which is being dealt with by due process of law. We are considering, however, to what extent the resident concerned was covered by the strict terms of the criteria governing admission to the hostel and will pursue the issues which this raises with the area probation service and more generally.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the criteria for admittance to the Canning House probation hostel, Liverpool.
§ Mr. MellorCanning House probation hostel, Liverpool, is approved by the Secretary of State for the reception of 17 men who are required to reside there by the terms of a probation order or who are accommodated at the hostel while on bail and who at the date of admission are not younger than 17 years of age. The criteria for admittance to any approved probation hostel are laid down in the Approved Probation Hostel and Home and Bail Hostel Rules 1976. They are augmented by Home Office circulars, which give area probation services discretion to admit certain categories of clients in receipt of after care.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents in the Canning House probation hostel, Liverpool have been convicted of any violent crime since it was opened.
§ Mr. MellorThe information is not available in the form requested. However, the Merseyside probation service has information for recent years: in 1986, 13 persons with convictions for offences involving violence were received into the hostel, and one bailee charged with rape. Since the hostel opened in 1975, only one person is recorded as having been involved in a violent offence while in residence. It is that person who has been charged with the alleged offence to which I have referred in my answer to the hon. Member's earlier question for today.