HC Deb 05 December 1985 vol 88 cc319-20W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects work to start on the new Woolwich prison; and when the first inmates are expected to be in residence.

Mr. Mellor

The advance works are due to start early in the new year with the main construction beginning in January 1987. The first intake of prisoners is expected in the latter part of 1991.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the operational requirement for the new Woolwich prison provides for 60 per cent. of the inmates to be housed in double cells.

Mr. Mellor

The provision of double cells for some prisoners is desirable on control or medical grounds. In the context of the Woolwich design, the savings on building costs have allowed us, within the budget for the project, to adopt a galleried solution to the design of the living blocks, which experience has shown to have many operational advantages. They also make an appreciable contribution towards achieving value for money for the project as a whole, bearing in mind the high development costs of the site, and towards the delivery of the announced and costed programme of prison building and refurbishment, of which Woolwich is an essential component.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any alterations have been made to the layout of the staff housing at the new Woolwich prison, in the light of the representations from the London borough of Greenwich; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The original housing proposals associated with the Woolwich project have been considerably revised during the development of the design. The London borough of Greenwich suggested in relation to the layout of the housing estate a staggering of the building line, and this has been incorporated into the current proposal.

Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff housing units are now planned as part of the new Woolwich prison development.

Mr. Mellor

We currently plan to provide 48 three-bedroom houses and seven four-bedroom houses. The level of provision will be kept under review in the light of any future changes in the requirement for staff housing associated with the new prison.