Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Wednesday, 12 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 March 2003. It was answered by Hilary Benn (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 March 2003 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on the future of the St Charles site in Brentwood and Ongar.

Answer: Mr. Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the future of the St Charles site in Brentwood and Ongar. [98446] Hilary Benn: The Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales is responsible for commissioning and purchasing secure accommodation for juveniles from the Prison Service, private sector, and local authority secure children's homes, and for setting and monitoring standards. Planing permission was obtained last year to build a 40 bed secure training centre at the St Charles site. The project has been under review pending the final outcome of the last spending review, but I can confirm that it will go ahead. The Youth Justice Board hope to restart the bidding process in May 2003.

Secondary information