Ashworth Special Hospital (Hansard, 10 July 2001)

§ Mr. George Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the costs of providing additional security measures at Ashworth special hospital which arose out of the Fallon inquiry and the Tilt report. [2806]

§ Jacqui Smith
£4.5 million capital was invested in 1999–2000 to improve security and safety at Ashworth hospital in response to the findings of the Fallon inquiry report. A review was also undertaken at that time of the likely need for future investment on security and modernisation. As a result, an additional £3 million capital per year was allocated for this purpose to the Department's north-west regional office. £16 million of capital funding is being made available to Ashworth hospital authority, over the period 2000 to 2004, to meet the additional security measures recommended for the hospital in the Tilt report.

§ Mr. George Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it cost to erect a new security fence at Ashworth special hospital; and if he will make a statement. [2805]

§ Jacqui Smith
The report of the review of security at the high security hospitals (the Tilt report), published in May 2000, recommended that the perimeter security of the three high security psychiatric hospitals, Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton, should be upgraded. The recommendation was accepted by the Government. Current estimates are that the planned additional external perimeter barrier at Ashworth hospital will cost £1.7 million capital. Schemes 445W linked to the external perimeter barrier, including external and internal perimeter roads, will cost a further £1.5 million capital, making a total cost of £3.2 million.

§ Mr. George Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources have been allocated for additional security measures at Ashworth special hospital arising out of the Tilt report; and if he will make a statement. [2807]

§ Jacqui Smith
£16 million of capital funding is being made available to Ashworth hospital authority, over the period 2000–04, to meet the additional security measures recommended for the hospital in the Tilt report.