§ Mr. FauldsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 March,Official Report, columns 411–12, what use Hewell Grange was put to when it was under Home Office responsibility before it was used as a prison; what maintenance and 160W repairs were undertaken; and what condition the building was in when it was handed over to the Prison Service. [21443]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Andrew Faulds, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the use Hewell Grange was put to when it was under Home Office responsibility before it was used as a prison; what maintenance and repairs were undertaken; and what condition the building was in when it was handed over to the Prison Service.
Hewell Grange has been used as an open prison for male adult offenders since 1991. Prior to that change of role, it was used as a Young Offenders Institution to accommodate young offenders in open conditions.
The building was acquired for use as a penal institution in 1947. There are no records of its condition at that time. A full range of maintenance work and repairs has been undertaken during its ownership by the Prison Service. Details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.