HMP Aldington (Hansard, 13 July 1999)

§ Mr. Coleman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many family units will be included in the redevelopment of Her Majesty's Prison, Aldington; and if he will make a statement. [90577]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
It has not yet been decided how many family units will be included in the redevelopment of the Aldington site, but we anticipate the requirement will be three to four units.

§ Mr. Coleman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements in terms of(a) support services, (b) translation services, (c) health services and (d) dietary services will be provided for asylum seekers following the redevelopment of Her Majesty's Prison, Aldington; and if he will make a statement. [90578]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
It is too early in the procurement process to provide details of the services to be provided once Aldington is redeveloped as an Immigration Service Detention Centre. The Services will be based on the provisions and facilities at the only other purpose designed centre, Tinsley House. A copy of the contract for Tinsley House is available in the Library.
113W

§ Mr. Coleman
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the plans to redevelop Her Majesty's Prison, Aldington; and if he will make a statement. [90574]

§ Mr. Mike O'Brien
The project to redevelop Her Majesty's Prison Aldington is at a very early stage. Work has just started to prepare the outline specification for the centre, on which planning authority and, later, the detailed Invitation to Tender for a public-private partnership will be based.
In advance of this competitive process, it is not prudent or meaningful to make public estimates of the cost of this project. The actual cost to the Home Office will be offset by making the 200 places currently used by Immigration detainees at Rochester Prison available for prisoner use. The current running costs of Aldington will also be made available to the Immigration Service to set against the cost of the proposed Detention Centre.