---

Home Office

Answer

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) for what reason one of the mother and baby units at HMP Askham Grange is to be closed; and if he will make a statement; [220610] (2) how many mothers with babies have been moved to establishments (a) closer to and (b) further from, their homes following the closure of the Mother and Baby Unit at HMP Askham Grange; and if he will make a statement; [220611] (3) what financial savings will be made from the mothballing or closure of the Mother and Baby Unit at HMP Askham Grange; and if he will make a statement; [220612] (4) how many mothers have been refused places on mother and baby units due to lack of availability of places in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [220613] (5) how many places are available in each mother and baby unit within prison establishments; and what the occupancy levels of each are. [220614] Paul Goggins: [holding answer 8 March 2005]: The demand for mother and baby places at Askham Grange has declined over the last 12 months. A decision was therefore made to reduce the number of mother and baby places available at that establishment. The change was carried out through natural reductions without the need to relocate mothers and babies. The decision was taken in order to match supply more closely to demand and provide more flexible use of existing accommodation. It was not taken to achieve savings and no estimate has been made of any reduction in mother and baby unit costs. The decision to reduce capacity at Askham Grange was taken as part of a wider review of all mother and baby places. No women have been refused admission because of lack of capacity in the units. The new capacities and occupancy figures at 14 March 2005 are set out in the following table. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Prison Places Occupancy at 14 March 2005 Askham Grange, north Yorkshire 10 7 Holloway, London 13 13 New Hall, west Yorkshire 9 6 Styal, Cheshire 12 9 Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire 12 8 Bronzefield, London 12 7 Peterborough (unit opening April 2005) 12 0 Total 79 50 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1498-9W;432 c1494-5W; 220610;220611;220612;220613;220614

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Closures Prisoners' transfers Prisons Mother and baby units HMP/YOI Askham Grange

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk