HC Deb 09 November 1998 vol 319 cc42-3W
Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the contract points requirements have been exceeded at the Medway secure training centre; and if fines(a) have been levied and (b) are being considered. [58471]

Mr. Boateng

The contract for Medway Secure Training centre provides for an evaluation of performance each quarter against a standard which assumes year on year improvement. At the end of the first quarter, contract payments were reduced by £5,869 to reflect performance points accumulated in that period. The evaluation of the second quarter has not yet taken place.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) assaults on staff and inmates and (b) acts of indiscipline there have been by young persons at the Medway secure training centre since its opening. [58468]

Mr. Boateng

Since Medway Secure Training Centre opened, the contractor has recorded a total of 97 assaults on staff by trainees. Twenty-six of these assaults resulted in staff being referred for medical treatment, and in 11 cases they led to criminal charges. Fourteen assaults on trainees by other trainees have been recorded, and in one case this led to criminal charges.

Fourteen incidents of concerted indiscipline involving more than two trainees have been recorded. In three cases, this led to criminal charges.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people have absconded from the Medway secure training centre since its opening. [58467]

Mr. Boateng

Two trainees breached the perimeter security at Medway Secure Training Centre on 22 August. They were immediately pursued by members of staff and were quickly returned to the centre.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total staff complement at the Medway secure training centre. [58470]

Mr. Boateng

The agreed staff complement for Medway Secure Training Centre is 100.5 staff.

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff have resigned or been dismissed from the Medway secure training centre since it opened. [58469]

Mr. Boateng

Since Medway Secure Training Centre opened, 35 staff have resigned. The contract of one member of staff was terminated by mutual agreement, and one member of staff employed by a sub-contractor was dismissed.