HC Deb 22 February 2000 vol 344 cc866-7W
Jackie Ballard

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list incidents that have occurred and been reported at(a) Medway, (b) Rainsbrook and (c) Hassockfield secure training centres since each facility opened; on what occasions contract failures have occurred at each facility; and what financial penalties have been incurred by the operators. [110455]

Mr. Boateng

The secure training centre at Medway opened on 17 April 1998, Rainsbrook opened on 1 July 1999 and Hassockfield opened on 17 September 1999.

The total number of incidents which have occurred and been reported since each facility opened are 1,513 at Medway; 497 at Rainsbrook and 612 at Hassockfield. These reportable incidents cover any occurrence which disturbs the normal operation of any part of the centre and range from a trainee refusing to go to his bedroom or do his chores, to acts of concerted indiscipline.

The contracts set out the performance measurements applying to specified services to be delivered by the Contractor, and the performance penalty points to be incurred for failure to deliver each of these services. If the Contractor reaches a specified level of performance penalty points, further points result in reductions in the payments made to the Contractor up to a maximum of 5 per cent. of the contract price in any year. The number of occasions on which performance points have been awarded for each contract is as follows:

  • Medway—175;
  • Rainsbrook—8; and
  • Hassockfield—29.

A full list of reported incidents and of contract failures can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The contracts additionally provide for financial penalties to be imposed for failure by the Contractor to meet the scheduled opening date and for any subsequent non-availability of trainee places. To date, financial penalties of £663,240 have been incurred by the operator at Medway, £155,152 at Rainsbrook and £44,890 at Hassockfield.

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