HL Deb 25 April 1996 vol 571 cc108-10WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why filth and squalor of outside areas was allowed to become a serious health hazard at Holloway prison.

Baroness Blatch

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 25th April 1996.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the conditions of outside areas at Holloway prison.

This situation occurred because of rising staff sickness levels and staff being required to undertake an increased number of escorts to outside hospitals as well as implementing additional security measures introduced as a result of recommendations contained in the Woodcock Report.

These demands diverted staff from other duties and resulted in a reduction in the supervision of cleaning parties. The recent increase of staff means a full cleaning programme is now underway.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the problem of rats and vermin at Holloway was allowed to get out of hand.

Baroness Blatch

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 25th April 1996.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the problem of vermin at Holloway prison.

The problem arose because the original pest control contract did not provide an adequate service. Additional measures have now been taken and the problem has, as a result, been significantly reduced.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have yet found alternative accommodation for Category A prisoners in Holloway prison.

Baroness Blatch

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to he given.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 25th April 1996.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the provision of alternative accommodation for Category A prisoners at Holloway prison.

We are in the process of reviewing which establishments should take Category A prisoners in future. We have not yet made any decision in relation to Holloway and we will continue to use Holloway for Category A prisoners as the need arises at least until the outcome of the review is known.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are committed to maintaining a full regime for women at Holloway, designed to keep them usefully occupied and to prepare them for release into the community.

Baroness Blatch

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 25th April 1996.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the regime at Holloway prison.

The Prison Service is committed to maintaining a regime at Holloway that is designed to keep prisoners usefully occupied and to prepare them, as far as is possible, for release into the community.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have yet found alternative accommodation for young offenders aged 15, 16 and 17 who were placed in Holloway.

Baroness Blatch

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 25th April 1996.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking whether alternative accommodation for young offenders aged 15, 16 and 17 who were placed in Holloway has yet been found.

Section 63(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 makes provision for young offenders to be held at a prison or remand centre. Sentenced female young offenders aged 15, 16 and 17 years of age may therefore legally be accommodated at Holloway. These prisoners are given priority and allocated as speedily as possible to an appropriate young offender institution. This is normally Bullwood Hall in Essex.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the maximum number of prisoners they will allow to be accommodated in Holloway prison.

Baroness Blatch

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Avebury from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt, dated 25th April 1996.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners allowed to be accommodated in Holloway prison.

The operational capacity at Holloway is 532.