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25 Mar 2004 : Column 1018W—continued
Prison Officers
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many minority ethnic prison officers (a) joined and (b) left the Prison Service in each of the last five years; [162362]
- (2) how many minority ethnic prison officers have resigned from the Prison Service within (a) six months, (b) one year and (c) two years of starting their employment in each of the last five years. [162363]
Paul Goggins: Information relating to the total number of minority ethnic prison officers who joined and left the Prison Service in each of the last five years is contained in the following table. The figures include existing Prison Service staff who converted to the prison officer grade during the period, and are based on voluntary declarations by staff.
| Minority Ethnic Prison Officers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of recruits andconversions to PrisonOfficer | Number of PrisonOfficers leaving theService | |||||
| Number | Percentage of total | Number | Percentage of total | |||
| 1999 | 53 | 5.2 | 26 | 3.1 | ||
| 2000 | 78 | 7.5 | 26 | 2.9 | ||
| 2001 | 36 | 7.6 | 38 | 2.8 | ||
| 2002 | 108 | 6.7 | 50 | 4.0 | ||
| 2003 | 140 | 5.9 | 60 | 4.3 | ||
Information on the number of minority ethnic prison officers who resigned from the Prison Service between 1 August 2000 and 31 December 2003 during their first two years of service is given in the following table.
| Minority Ethnic Prison Officers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resigned within six months of appointment | Resigned between six and 12 months of appointment | Resigned between one and two years of appointment | ||
| August to December 2000 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2001 | — | — | 5 | |
| 2002 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| 2003 | 2 | — | 1 | |
Information relating to length of service for staff who left the Service prior to August 2000 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Prisons (Accommodation)
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons where prisoner accommodation is due to be refurbished in the next 12 months, indicating those where the work (a) is expected to proceed as planned, (b) has been brought forward and (c) has been put on hold. [163330]
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Paul Goggins: The following prisons are scheduled to be part of the wing refurbishment scheme during the next financial year:
- Lincoln
- Preston
- Wakefield
- Wandsworth
- Pentonville
- Winchester
In addition, work to improve conditions in other prison wings may take place, while this up-grading work is being undertaken.
In order to increase capacity across the prison estate, some refurbishment work may have to be deferred. Decisions on which schemes may be affected are still subject to consideration.
Prisons (Male Estate)
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the expected cost of re-rolling (a) HM Prison Winchester and (b) HM Prison Edmund's Hill is; and how many additional places the changes will create for the male estate. [163332]
Paul Goggins: There will be no significant increase in building costs, beyond the provision of gender-specific facilities and possible adjustments to physical security, in the re-role of the West Hill wing at HMP Winchester and of HMP Edmund's Hill. Area and local managers are working to establish security, regime and staffing profiles appropriate to the new role. Therefore, full costs or savings are not yet available.
The re-role of HMP Edmund's Hill will make 310 places available for male prisoners. The West Hill wing of HMP Winchester will initially provide a further 87 places for male prisoners, with an additional 40 bed unit becoming available in May 2004.
Private Security Act
Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for implementing the Private Security Act 2001. [163221]
Ms Blears: The Security Industry Authority (SIA) commenced licensing of door supervisors in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on 1 March 2004. It is proposed to roll out licensing of door supervisors across the rest of the country on a phased geographical basis from June 2004 to April 2005. Door supervisors in Wales will be able to apply for an SIA licence from 14 June 2004 and must be in possession of an SIA licence by 6 September 2004. On current plans, the timetable for the introduction of licensing in the other industry sectors covered by the Private Security Industry Act 2001 is as follows: Vehicle Immobilisers from late 2004; Manned Guards and Keyholders in 2005; and Security Consultants and Private Investigators in 2006.
The timetable for the introduction of the approved contractor scheme is under consideration by the Authority.
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Probation Service
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the impact on the Probation Service of its April 2001 re-organisation. [163108]
Paul Goggins: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1285W.
Resettlement Programmes
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many and what percentage of long-term prisoners have completed a resettlement programme in each of the last 10 years; [163281]
- (2) how many and what percentage of long-term prisoners serving a sentence for (a) burglary, (b) offences of violence and (c) drug related offences completed a resettlement programme in each of the last 10 years. [163284]
Paul Goggins: The information requested is not available. Long-term prisoners are provided with a range of help with their resettlement needs prior to release. There is a particular focus on helping them secure employment and accommodation, through partnership working with employers, Jobcentre Plus and housing providers.
Up to 1,500 long-term prisoners at any time are able, subject to appropriate risk assessment, to undertake unpaid community work or training on day release under licence. Up to another 1,500 long-term prisoners at any time are able, subject to appropriate risk assessment, to undertake paid work in the community on day release under licence. These opportunities help the prisoners make a managed transition back to life in the community, as well as gaining skills and experience which will help them secure employment on release.
Secure Training Centres
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to alter the monitoring regime for secure training centres; and whether each secure training centre will continue to have a full-time on-site monitor. [163326]
Paul Goggins: Under section 8 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 each contracted-out secure training centre (STC) must have a monitor. There are no plans to change that requirement.
Since the first STC opened in 1998 the Home Office and the Youth Justice Board have built up substantial monitoring experience. We believe the lessons learned can and should be applied more widely across the juvenile secure estate. To do that the Youth Justice Board is introducing a new regional performance monitoring regime. This will cover STCs alongside Young Offender Institutions and Local Authority Secure Children's Homes.
The nominated STC monitors will combine their STC role with other, regional performance monitoring; they will be supported by assistant monitors on-site; and as part of the changes STC monitoring will be strengthened
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by including along with contract compliance the reception and induction arrangements, key performance indicators, key safeguarding indicators and safety tests.
Suicide (Websites)
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the presence of websites and internet chatrooms that promote suicide; and if he will make a statement. [161080]
Paul Goggins: In the last 12 months the Home Office has received representations about two cases of suicide in which these websites are alleged to have been a contributing factor.
Winchester/Edmunds Hill Prisons
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was made to move women prisoners from (a) Winchester and (b) Edmunds Hill prisons; how many women prisoners are to be moved; and to which prisons they are being sent. [162626]
Paul Goggins [holding answer 22 March 2004]: The announcement on 11 March 2004 closely followed the decision to re-role HMP Edmunds Hill and the West Hill wing at HMP Winchester, as a prompt response to changing population pressures. There was a short delay in the announcement to allow for staff in these establishments to be informed of the decision before the information became public. Decisions on where prisoners will be moved to will be made on an individual basis, to help ensure that each prisoner is held at an establishment that is appropriate for their needs.
As at 11 March 2004, there were a total of 364 female prisoners in HMP Edmunds Hill and the West Hill wing of HMP Winchester. Those who have not reached their release date by the time the re-role occurs will be transferred to other establishments.
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