HC Deb 13 July 1988 vol 137 cc219-20W
Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement in respect of Her Majesty's detention centre, Gringley on the Hill, Nottingham, and Her Majesty's detention centre, North sea camp, Lincolnshire, as to(a) why these detention centres were closed and (b) what future plans his Department has for them.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Her Majesty's detention centre, Gringley was temporarily closed on 7 March this year. Her Majesty's detention centre, North sea camp ceased to accommodate detention centre trainees on 18 September 1987 but was maintained by a small complement of staff to provide daytime work for parties of prisoners from Her Majesty's prison Morton hall. This action was taken in response to the decline in demand for detention centre accommodation and it enabled staff at both establishments to be deployed in the most effective way to other prison service establishments where they were more urgently needed.

North sea camp has now converted to an open training prison for adult male prisoners and on 4 July this year began to build up a residential population which will increase to 202 as soon as resources allow.

The future of the establishment at Gringley is under review.