Secure Training Units

HC Deb 20 December 1994 vol 251 c1212W

Mr. Michael

To ask the Secretary State for the Home Department if he will list the locations selected for secure training units and give for each(a) the date on which detailed planning permission was applied for, (b) the progress to date on each application (c) the projected dates on each site for letting a contract, for commencement on site and for completion, (d) the number of young people to be accommodated in each case, (e) the target date for first admissions in each case, (f) the target date for first admissions in each case and (g) the target date for full operation.

Mr. Maclean

I announced on 21 April 1994 at columns636–37, that it was proposed to site secure training centres at Campsfield house, Gringley, Medomsley and Onley. The location of the fifth site, at Cookham Wood, was announced on 29 June 1994 at column 622. Each secure training centre will accommodate up to 40 persistent juvenile offenders sentenced to a secure training order.

Applications for outline planning permission in respect of four of the sites and for a certificate of lawfulness of proposed use in respect of the Gringley site have been lodged with the relevant planning authorities. To date, permission has been granted on one site—Cookham Wood—and planning consultants have been engaged to advise on progressing matters on the other four sites.

Following enactment of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, it is our intention to issue invitations to tender for the design, construction and refurbishment, management and finance of each secure training centre. Invitations to tender will be issued on the basis of named sites with the benefit of outline planning permission for the development of a secure training centre. Contracts will then be let as soon as practicable following receipt of the tenders.

It will be the responsibility of the contractor to obtain detailed planning permission and issues such as projected start and completion dates on site, target dates for first admission and for full operation are contractual matters to be proposed by tenderers. Those proposals will then form part of the tender evaluation exercise.