HC Deb 16 March 1995 vol 256 cc671-2W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Prison Service staff have been used for training private prisoner custody officers; at what cost; and at whose cost, giving figures for each year since 1991 and for the latest date available.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

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 Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 16 March 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about how many prison service staff have been used for training private prisoner custody officers; at what cost; and at whose cost, giving figures for each year since 1991 and for the latest date available. The information is outlined below: 1991: No training provided 1992: No training provided 1993: A total of 135 trainer days employing 9 individual trainers for varying lengths of time, all in control and restraint skills.

Number of 15-years olds sentenced for indictable offences by sex, type of disposal and type of court 1990–93
England and Wales
Year/Court Total sentenced Absolute and conditional discharge Fine Supervision order Attendance centre order Care order1 Young Offender Institution Otherwise dealt with
Males
1990
Juvenile courts 5,558 1,946 845 1,173 1,144 38 306 106
Magistrates' courts 396 158 103 72 42 1 10 10
Crown Court 328 25 8 125 37 14 79 40

1994: A total of 234 trainer days employing 12 individual trainers for varying lengths of time, all in control and restraint skills. 1995: 4 prisoner custody officers attended courses run by the National Control & Restraint (Advanced) Training Centre alongside public sector colleagues.

The companies employing the officers trained were charged aggregate amounts of £40,500, £87,000 and £4,000 in 1993, 1994 and 1995 respectively for this training. These charges fully recovered the costs incurred.