§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for the latest date available, the current occupancy rate for each bail hostel in Humberside, and each of the three counties of Yorkshire; and what the corresponding figures were 12 months ago.
§ Mr. MacleanThe figures requested, based on total approved places, are as follows:
Percentage occupancy rates February 1993 February 1994 Humberside Queen's Road 32 47 Scunthorpe1 — 39 South Yorkshire Centre 45 91 45 Norfolk Park 60 62 Rookwood 37 78 Town Moor 79 85 West Yorkshire Howden House 71 61 Walmer Villas 76 84 Elm Bank 100 71 Albion Street1 — 84 Cardigan House 84 68 St. John's 90 92 Ripon House 84 93 North Yorkshire No hostels currently. 1 Both Scunthorpe and Albion Street opened subsequent to February 1993.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to the closure of bail hostels in Humberside and each of the three counties of Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanThe closure of 11 approved hostels was announced at the end of November last year. The South Yorkshire probation committee was asked to identify one hostel for closure; and it has now been agreed that the Centre 45 hostel in Sheffield should close. None of the approved hostels in Humberside or West Yorkshire is affected. There are currently no hostels in North Yorkshire, although a new hostel in York is expected to open shortly.
The Government continue to support the provision of approved hostels where these meet the needs of the courts in a cost-effective way and within the requirements of national standards.