§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the empty detention centre at Gringley near Retford, Nottinghamshire is still available for sale; and if he will consider selling the site to a consortium of local residents.
§ Mr. MacleanNo. The site was withdrawn from sale by the Prison Service pending an assessment of its potential use as a secure training centre.
§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the closure of the former Gringley detention centre, near Retford; how many inmates it held; and how many people were employed there.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility 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 Mr. D. Lewis to Mr. Joe Ashton, dated 15 April 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the closure of the former Gringley detention centre.Gringley detention centre was closed in March 1988, as, following the discontinuance of detention centres, the site was too small and uneconomical for any alternative use by the Prison Service.When it operated as a detention centre, it had a certified normal accommodation of 72.It is not possible to provide precise details of staff numbers, as Gringley was operated as a satellite of Hatfield, then an open establishment for young prisoners. It is estimated that a total of about 35 staff were normally required to cover the shift system and support services which operated at Gringley.