§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which prisons do not yet have a visitors' centre (whether on prison service land or not); and how long they estimate it will take to provide such centres for all prisons. [HL5150]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalIn Northern Ireland only Hydebank Wood Young Offenders' Centre does not have a visitors' centre at present. However, building work has already commenced on a new visitors' centre and contractors have estimated that this will be completed by April 2004.
In England and Wales the provisions on a visitors' centre is a matter for each governor or director, who is best placed to assess the facilities required locally. All newly built and contracted-out establishments are required to have a visitors' centre under the terms of their contract. We aspire to provide such centres at most prisons across the remainder of the estate, in due course, but the considerable financial and other 215WA resources required, as well as the many competing priorities, have prevented some establishments taking this forward. It is estimated that around 90 establishments have a visitors' centre. However, details of the number and distribution are not routinely collected and there is some doubt about the accuracy of the information that we have on this matter. The Prison Service is shortly to conduct an exercise to establish the current position and I will write to the noble Lord when it is completed.