HC Deb 26 October 1995 vol 264 cc766-8W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the board of visitors at Doncaster prison; and when their term of office expires. [39551]

Miss Widdecombe

The members of the board of visitors at HMP Doncaster are as listed:

  • Mrs. Audrey Anne Murphy JP (Chairman)
  • Mr. John Sammuel George Share (Vice Chairman)
  • Mr. Michael Andrew JP
  • Mrs. Diane Atkinson
  • Mrs. Hazel Pauline Bailey JP
  • Mr. William John Barton
  • Mrs. Yvonne Cooke
  • Mr. Pete Etherington
  • Mr. Martin John Faulkner
  • Mr. Barry Michael Goforth
  • Mr. Roy Hunt
  • Miss Susan Iris Mackay
  • Mr. Douglas Manners
  • Mrs. Carole Diane O'Neill JP
  • Mrs. Maureen Oakes
  • Mrs. Andrea Robinson
  • Mrs. Cynthia Janice Thomas JP
  • Mrs. Pauline Wilson

The term of appointment of members of the board of visitors at HMP Doncaster is up to the triennial review date of the board, which is 31 December 1996.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the chief inspector of prisons is next scheduled to visit Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement. [39547]

Miss Widdecombe

The next announced full inspection of HMP Doncaster is scheduled to begin on 10 March 1996. Whether HM chief inspector—if by then in post—will visit on that occasion will be a matter for decision at the time.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the subcontractors providing services at, or relating to, Doncaster prison since it opened whose contract was terminated before its time of expiry; and if he will indicate the reason for the contract being terminated; [38965]

(2) if he will list the subcontractors currently providing services at or relating to Doncaster prison; and if he will list in each case the services provided, the length of contract and the cost of the contract. [38966]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 October 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about present and former sub-contracted services at Doncaster prison. Premier Prison Services does not sub-contract any operating functions involving security, the provision of prisoner programmes, health care, food services, works services or laundry. There are, however, several specialist contracts in place to deal with the maintenance of computer equipment; electronic locking systems; closed-circuit television linked to video recording systems; and specialist plant and equipment. In addition, specialist medical personnel support Doncaster prison on a contractual basis when required. The terms of such contracts are a matter of commercial confidentiality for Premier Prison Services and the contractors concerned. To date Premier Prison Services has not terminated any contract with sub-contractors at Doncaster prison.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current reinstatement value of Doncaster prison; how it is calculated; and how often it is reassessed. [39054]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 26 October 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the current re-instatement value of Doncaster prison, how it is calculated, and how often it is assessed. Doncaster prison is contractually managed by Premier Prison Services. Under the terms of the contract, damage to the structure of the prison buildings is the responsibility of the contractor, except where it is deemed to have been outside the contractor's control. The pre-final account construction costs of Doncaster prison are estimated at £92.4 million (including VAT, variation of price and resource costs). However, given the extent of the liability agreed with the contractor and the need to evaluate the cost of damage should it occur, it is not necessary for the Prison Service to calculate, or re-assess, the costs of the potential re-instatement value of the prison. This is not our practice even for prisons for which we must fully bear any re-instatement costs.