HC Deb 09 March 1994 vol 239 cc229-30W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations underlay the reduction of the funding to the West Midlands probation service; what estimate he has made of this on the Shard End drive training project in Birmingham; and what facilities for projects alternative to the Shard End drive project exist in the west midlands.

Mr. Maclean

There has been no such reduction in funding. The West Midlands probation service's revenue grant for 1994–95 is 5.4 per cent. higher than in 1993–94 and the funds allocated to it from the probation supervision grants scheme are 46 per cent. higher. The Shard End drive project has previously been funded under the scheme. It is for the West Midlands probation service to decide, in preparing its plans for partnerships with the independent sector, which individual projects to continue to support.

The service has decided to invite applications from any interested organisation in the area to run drive training activities in future. The response will show the service what alternative facilities are or might be available.

Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 February,Official Report, column 704, if he will provide occupancy figures for each probation and bail hostel in the west midlands for each of the last four quarters for which figures are available after discounting those beds in hostels which are not available due to refurbishment under the non-availability was approved by his Department.

Mr. Maclean

The West Midlands probation service has provided the following occupancy figures, which exclude places taken out of use for refurbishment. In most cases the Home Office approval for temporary withdrawal of places was not sought or required.

Location 1Per cent. 2Per cent. 3Per cent. 4Per cent.
Carpenter House 91 96 83 78
Bilston 96 81 88 88
Stoke Green 89 72 64 81
Welford House 69 72 67 74
Crowley House 55 48 57 60
Marshall House 89 90 91 92
Sycamore Lodge 80 79 73 84
Stonnal Road n/a n/a 81 88
1January to March 1993.
2 April to June 1993.
3July to September 1993.
4October to December 1993.

Note: Stonnel Road re-opened in May and the first complete quarterly figures available are April to June. Elliott House did not open until November 1993.