HC Deb 31 July 1984 vol 65 cc216-8W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available to prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs prison; how many baths or showers each prisoner is allowed per week; and how many changes of clothes each prisoner is allowed per week.

Mr. Hurd

There are 14 baths" 119 showers, 142 toilets and 137 urinals. There is a basic allowance of one bath or shower per week. Additional showers are allowed where needed because of the nature of prisoners' work or activities, or for medical reasons. Each inmate has a weekly allowance of two shirts, two tee-shirts or vests, two pairs of underpants and two pairs of socks.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of prisoners who can be employed in workshops in Wormwood Scrubs prison on any one day.

Mr. Hurd

Five hundred and twenty-five.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours in the week ended 14 July, or any other typical week, the workshops in Wormwood Scrubs prison were open; what was the average number of prisoners employed; how many classes took place and for how many hours; what was the average number of inmates in each class; and how much time on average each prisoner spent out of his cell during that week.

Mr. Hurd

During the week ending 30 June eight workshops at Wormwood Scrubs were open on average for 17 hours employing an average of 29 prisoners each. In addition, a further 265 prisoners were employed on various domestic and maintenance duties. One hundred and two classes were held during the week with total class hours of 254, and the average number of prisoners attending each class was between six and seven. It is not practical to calculate the average amount of time spent out of cells since this covers many fctors apart from the availability of work and education including for example, visits, exercise, association, medical treatment and applications to see the governor.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average population of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the week ended 14 July, or any other typical week.

Mr. Hurd

On 13 July 1984 the population of Wormwood Scrubs prison was about 1,220. Average weekly populations are not recorded centrally.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many square feet of exercise space are available to prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Mr. Hurd

Forty-eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the education programme at Wormwood Scrubs prison has improved since it was criticised by the chief inspector of prisons in 1981 as being limited and insufficient.

Mr. Hurd

In accordance with the recommendation of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons the education programme at Wormwood Scrubs prison was thoroughly reviewed by the prison department chief education officer's branch in 1982–83, in consultation with the Inner London education authority, in order to improve its scale, content and organisation. The appointment of a new education officer to the prison in January 1984 has enabled this work to be carried forward. The range and frequency of evening classes had been considerably extended. New curriculum arrangements will be introduced in September; all basic subjects and some more advanced ones will then be available throughout the establishment. The education arrangements at the prison will be kept under review.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the regime in D wing at Wormwood Scrubs prison still falls below that provided in other parts of the dispersal system, as the chief inspector of prisons stated in 1981; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

As announced in the then Home Secretary's statement on the chief inspector's report, improvements were made to the regime in Wormwood Scrubs D hall after the inspection in December 1981 but the regime there still falls below that provided in other parts of the dispersal system. The control review committee in their report "Managing the Long Term Prison System" recommended that D hall should leave the dispersal system. We are considering that recommendation.