HC Deb 04 July 1994 vol 246 cc45-8W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who received the interest on the performance security provided by United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. to his Department under the terms of the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about who received the interest on the performance security provided by United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. to his Depatment under the terms of the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison. Under the terms of the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison the contractor is required to provide the Prison Service with performance security. This was provided by means of a Peformance Bond, and therefore the issue of any interest payments does not arise.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been witheld from United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. for loss, destruction or damage to Blakenhurst prison, listing the circumstances and amount of each separate penalty.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the amount of money witheld from United Kingdom Detention Services Limited for loss, destruction or damage to Blakenhurst prison. The only occasion on which money was witheld from UKDS is set out in my letter to you of 29 June (Hansard Col. 627).

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been made against the public liability insurance policy held by United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. and his Department in connection with Blakenhurst prison; what were the circumstances in each case; what were the amounts claimed; and how many claims have been successful.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of claims made against the public liability insurance policy held by United Kingdom Detention Services Limited and his department in connection with Blakenhurst prison; the circumstances; the amounts and the success of the claims. There have been no claims made against the public liability insurance policy held by United Kingdom Detention Services Limited.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contact(a) the Health and Safety Executive, (b) the environmental health office and (c) the fire service has had with Blakenhurst prison; how many inspections of Blakenhurst prison have been made by each of these bodies; and what were the findings in each case.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what contact (a) The Health and Safety Executive, (b) the Environmental Health Office and (c) the Fire Service has had with Blakenhurst Prison. Representatives of the Health and Safety Executive have visited on three occasions. On 19 February 1993 they made seven recommendations, all of which have been actioned. They visited again on the 14 October 1993 when a further seven recommendations were made, including a complaint about cleanliness. Again, all have been actioned. The last visit was on 10 March this year when they expressed general satisfaction in a verbal report. The local Environmental Health Officer has visited on two occasions. The report of 19 November 1993 contained twenty recommendations. On 22 April this year the Environmental Health Officer assessed progress and found that nineteen of the original recommendations had been actioned satisfactorily. One recommendation is still outstanding. Hereford and Worcester Fire Service have visited eleven times for exercises or familiarisation visits. The Fire Service do not carry out full surveys or inspections. These are carried out by the Fire Safety Section of the Prison Service and they have visited on three occasions since Blakenhurst Prison opened. A full fire survey was carried out in June 1993 and Fire Safety Section's recommendations are being actioned.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made by his Department to the services provided by United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. under the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the changes made by his Department to the services provided by United Kingdom Detention Service Limited (UKDS) under the contract to manage Blakenhurst Prison. The only occasion on which changes were made to the services provided by UKDS under the contract to manage Blakenhurst prison is set out in my letter to you of 29 June (Hansard Col. 627).

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been paid by his Department for loss, destruction or damage to Blakenhurst prison, listing the circumstances and amount of each separate payment.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Responsibilty 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent . Question about the amount of money paid by his Department for loss, destruction or damage to Blakenhurst prison; the circumstances and the amount of each separate payment. No money has been paid to United Kingdom Detention Services Limited for damage repair at Blakenhurst prison.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) staff and (b) people applying to become staff, at Blakenhurst prison, have been refused Home Office certification as fit to perform such duties; and, of these, how many have later reapplied and received such certification.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: Responsibilty 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of staff and people applying to become staff at Blakenhurst prison that have been refused Home Office certification; and how many have later reapplied and become certificated. Twenty people who applied to work at Blakenhurst as prison custody officers (PCO) have been refused Home Office certification. Of these one has been reconsidered and subsequently received certification. Non-PCO do not require certification. All people who work at contracted out prisons are, however, subject to routine enquiries similar to those made for applicants for Prison Service employment.

Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what notification or advice United Kingdom Detention Services Ltd. gave the Home Office regarding the buildings, facilities and design at Blakenhurst prison; and what action has been taken as a result.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

[holding answer 30 June 1994]: Responsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 4 July 1994: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what notification or advice United Kingdom Detention Services Limited (UKDS) gave the Home Office regarding the buildings, facilities and design at Blakenhurst prison; and what action has been taken as a result. UKDS had no involvement in the original buildings, facilities and design at Blakenhurst. Since Blakenhurt became operational, UKDS have recommended changes to the existing conditions at Blackenhurst on a number of occasions. These have included fitting electric gates on house blocks; creating canteens in four house blocks; modifying the sewage system; installing television cameras in the walkways; modifying the holding cells in reception; providing power outlets and drainage in the industrial workshop; altering one spur of a house block to create a Vulnerable Prisoner Unit; changing the majority of spy-holes to polycarbonate; and installing a new bolt system for cell doors. All these requests, which have come through the Controller at the prison, have been actioned. It is common for modifications to be required in new prisons, especially in the first year of operation. UKDS has paid for a number of the alterations and the remainder have been paid for by the Prison Service.