§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to ensure that the recommendations for reforming conditions at the Stoke Heath Young Offenders' Institution made by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons following his visit to Stoke Heath last October are fully and promptly carried out; and if he will ensure that frequent, irregular spot checks without prior warning are carried out in future. [158374]
§ Mr. BoatengA new Governor and Deputy have been appointed and an action plan addressing all the recommendations is required to be produced within140W 30 working days of publication. This is monitored by line management with progress reports to Ministers nine and 15 months after publication.
In the 2000–01 financial year, the Area Manager made 16 visits to the establishment; Area Managers are normally expected to make eight visits per year to each establishment. There is clear evidence of improvement in regime delivery and management under the new Governor and Deputy. The Area Manager is satisfied that his normal visiting arrangements, which may include unannounced visits, will now be sufficient to monitor the implementation of the action plan.
§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to ensure that the safety and proper treatment of young offenders and adult prisoners are not entrusted to the former governor and deputy governor of the Stoke Heath Young Offenders' Institution in Shropshire. [158373]
§ Mr. BoatengThe former Governor of Stoke Heath young offender institution has retired from the Prison Service. There is no evidence that the former Deputy Governor is not capable of performing an operational role under the supervision of a suitable governing Governor.