HL Deb 28 January 1999 vol 596 cc161-2WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

  1. (a) what are the names of the contractors for the planned secure training centre at Gringley in Nottinghamshire and Medomsley in Durham;
  2. (b) when they signed those contracts; and
  3. (c) when these secure training centres are due to open; and [HL622]

Whether they have selected sites for any secure training centres in addition to Medway, Gringley and Medomsley; and, if so, whether they have signed any contracts for such further secure training centres. [HL623]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Five secure training centres are planned to cover England and Wales. Medway Secure Training Centre opened on 17 April 1998.

The next secure training centre (STC) to open will be at Onley in Northamptonshire and will be known as Rainsbrook STC. The contract for this centre was signed with Rebound ECD Ltd, a subsidiary of Group 4, on 3 July 1998. It is due to open in May 1999.

The third centre at Medomsley, County Durham, to be known as Hassockfield secure training centre, is due to open in September 1999. The contract for this centre was signed with Medomsley Training Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Premier Prisons, on 12 November 1998.

Planning permission is being sought on two other sites, Sharpness in the Southwest and Ranby in Nottinghamshire. The Prison Service site at Ranby in Nottinghamshire has replaced Gringley as the preferred site for this area and we are seeking planning permission for residential use for Gringley.

Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many residential units and how many bedrooms in each unit there are, or are planned to be, in the secure training centres at Medway, Gringley and Medomsley respectively. [HL624]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

Three contracts have so far been signed for secure training centres: Medway in Kent, Onley in Northamptonshire and Medomsley in County Durham. The prison site at Ranby in Nottinghamshire has replaced Gringley as the preferred site for this region, subject to planning consent.

The contract for each secure training centre requires a maximum of 40 trainees to be accommodated and for each trainee to have their own bedroom. Medway Secure Training Centre has eight self-contained house units, with five bedrooms in each unit. The secure training centre at Onley (to be known as Rainsbrook) is similarly designed. The secure training centre at Medomsley (to be known as Hassockfield) will comprise six separate house units each with seven bedrooms.