HL Deb 28 January 1999 vol 596 cc162-3WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 5 October 1998 (WA 80):

  1. (a) between what dates were each of the three female trainees in the Medway Secure Training Centre;
  2. (b) what was the length of the secure training order for each of the three female trainees;
  3. (c) whether, during the period that any of the three female trainees were at the Medway Secure Training Centre, their bedrooms were in a separate unit from those of the male trainees; and
  4. (d) whether there have been any female trainees at the Medway Secure Training Centre subsequently; and, if so, for what periods. [HL625]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Female trainees were at Medway Secure Training Centre between the following dates:

  1. (i) 4 April 1998 to 4 June 1998; this trainee was sentenced to a six-month secure training order custodial part of her sentence;
  2. (ii) 6 May 1998 to 17 August 1998; this trainee was sentenced to an eight-month secure training order but was released on appeal before the end of the custodial part of her sentence; and
  3. (iii) 16 June 1998 to 13 September 1998; this trainee was sentenced to a six-month secure training order but her time in custody was reduced by time she had spent on remand prior to sentencing.

The female trainees' rooms were all physically separate from those of male trainees but they were not in a separate unit. At all times including at night, female trainees are supervised by a female member of staff.

There have been no female trainees in Medway subsequently.