§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether vacant land adjacent to Bedford prison has been acquired for expansion of prison facilities.
§ Mr. MellorNo, but the possibility is being examined.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many years it is expected that Bedford prison will be used as a transit prison serving Crown courts in a number of locations.
§ Mr. MellorWe have no proposals to change the existing role of Bedford prison as a local prison receiving prisoners direct from the Crown court centres and magistrates courts within its catchment area.
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§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the industrial dispute at Bedford prison was a contributory factor in the recent escape of four prisoners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorWe have no indication of any connection between the escape of four young remand prisoners from Her Majesty's prison Bedford early on Monday 14 March and the recent industrial action at the prison. An investigation into the circumstances of the escape is being undertaken by the governor.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he proposes to do about overcrowded conditions in Bedford prison.
§ Mr. MellorThe overcrowded conditions at Bedford prison can be relieved in the long term only by the provision of additional places elsewhere through the prison building programme. In the meantime the population levels are closely monitored and prisoners are transferred to other establishments as vacancies arise.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the capital expenditure on Bedford prison in each of the past seven years; and what investment would now be required to reduce overcrowding.
§ Mr. MellorCapital expenditure on Bedford prison in each of the past seven years has been as follows:
£ 1982–83 (To date) 1,124 1981–82 3,839 1980–81 14,829 1979–80 8,928 1978–79 21,392 1977–78 10,692 1976–77 24,250 No further investment at Bedford would have much impact on overcrowding, although living and working conditions could be improved, if more land were available.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff there are at Bedford prison; how many prisoners there were on 15 March; and how many prisoners there were on average per cell.
§ Mr. MellorOn 15 March there were 162 prison officer class staff in post at Bedford prison, and the prison population was 362. Three hundred and thirty-five of these prisoners were accommodated in cells, with an average of 2.36 prisoners to each cell.