§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of prison officer staff to prisoners in closed prisons and each of the dispersal prisons; and by how much the prison 438W officer staff is under strength in closed prisons.
§ Mr. JohnAt 1st October 1976 the overall ratio of prison officer class staff to inmates in all closed male prisons, including dispersal prisons, was 1: 2.73. The ratio in each case of the dispersal prisons was:
Albany … 1: 1.03 Gartree … 1: 0.92 Hull … 1: 1.23* Long Lartin … 1: 1.13 Parkhurst … 1: 1.14 Wakefield … 1: 2.21 Wormwood Scrubs … 1: 3.11 * At 1st September 1976. The ratio at Wormwood Scrubs reflects the lower proportion of Category A prisoners to its total population.
At the same date, overall prison officer strengths in closed male prisons were up to the current authorised levels.