HC Deb 10 February 1994 vol 237 cc447-9W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were remanded in Bewsey street hostel; and how many are(a) black males and (b) black females, at the latest date available.

Mr. Maclean

In the three months to 30 November 1993,72 residents were admitted to the hostel. I understand from inquiries of the hostel that, in this period, one black male and no black females were resident there.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the occupancy rate of the Bewsey street hostel for each of the last 10 quarters.

Mr. Maclean

Occupancy figures for the period April 1991 to March 1992 are not readily available on a quarterly basis. The occupancy figures for the most recent six quarters, and for December 1993, are as follows:

Per cent.
April—June 1992 56
July—September 1992 62
October—December 1992 72
January—March 1993 75
April—June 1993 76
July—September 1993 85
December 1993 85

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice will be given to the magistrates courts regarding any future bail hostel remands following the closure of Bewsey street hostel;

(2) what provision will be made to enable courts in Cheshire to make probation orders with conditions of residence.

Mr. Maclean

It will be for the Cheshire probation service to bring to the attention of the courts which it serves the facilities offered by other approved hostels.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was(a) the average cost of a weekly place in the Bewsey street hostel, (b) the average length of stay and (c) the average cost of a prison remand place in the Cheshire area.

Mr. Maclean

(a) The current weekly cost is £221.

(b) This information is not readily available in the form requested.

(c) In 1992–93, the average weekly net operating cost per prisoner at Her Majesty's prison Risley, in Warrington, was £304. Costs for remand prisoners are not kept separately.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be consulted about the proposed closure of the Bewsey street hostel in Cheshire.

Mr. Maclean

The Cheshire probation service was notified on 1 December of our closure proposals and given the opportunity to comment.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents of Bewsey street hostel were, on the latest date available,(a) under 17, (b) between 17 and 21 and (c) 21 years and over.

12. Mr. Maclean

There were 19 residents at the hostel on 30 November 1993. The breakdown requested is(a) 0; (b) 7; (c)

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were either re-arrested and charged or breached for failure to comply with requirements at the Bewsey street hostel for the latest period for which statistics are available.

Mr. Maclean

In the three months to 30 November 1993, one resident was re-arrested and charged, and seven residents were breached for failure to comply with requirements.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the numbers of people who might be remanded into custody per annum as a result of the closure of Bewsey street hostel in Cheshire.

Mr. Maclean

It is for the courts to decide who should be remanded in custody. There are approved hostel facilities available to them in Cheshire and neighbouring probation areas.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are likely to be made redundant in the event of the closure of the Bewsey street hostel; and what would be the financial costs.

Mr. Maclean

It will be for the Cheshire probation committee, as employer, to decide how to manage the consequences of closure, in terms of redeployment or redundancies; we have not yet received a full account of its conclusions.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the annual saving as a result of the closure of the Bewsey street hostel in Cheshire.

Mr. Maclean

We expect the saving to be in the order of £100,000 in 1994–95 and £200,000 in 1995–96.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what capital and revenue expenditure will be available for hostel provision in the Cheshire probation area for 1994–95 and 1995–96.

Mr. Maclean

Revenue grant for 1994–95 and 1995–96 will be about £400,000 a year. The level of capital grant will depend on the scrutiny of spending proposals submitted by all probation areas.