HC Deb 19 November 1986 vol 105 cc197-8W
Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average population of Brixton prison in the most recent convenient week.

Mr. Mellor

Prison population figures are collected centrally once a week. On 14 November 1986, Her Majesty's prison Brixton held 1,086 prisoners.

Mr. Dubs

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

Mr. Mellor

The number is 113.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours in the most recent convenient week the workshops in Brixton 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 prisoners in each class; and how much time on average each prisoner spent out of his cell during that week.

Mr. Mellor

In the week commencing 3 November 1986, the one workshop at Brixton was open for 20 hours; an average of 106 prisoners were employed in the workshop and on catering, maintenance, cleaning and other domestic tasks; 30 evening education classes took place for a total of 73 hours; there were an average of four prisoners in each class. It is not practical to calculate the average amount of time spent out of cells since this covers many things apart from work and education including, for example, exercise, association, visits, use of the prison library and canteen and other out of cell activities.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available to prisoners in Brixton 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. Mellor

Nineteen baths, 80 showers, 95 WCs and 68 urinals are available in Brixton prison. In general all prisoners have access to a bath or shower daily. This routine may be varied for medical cases or for prisoners appearing at court. Prison clothing is exchanged at least once a week but more frequently if considered necessary —for example for prisoners on kitchen parties and some other work parties. Unconvicted prisoners may wear private clothing and this may be exchanged on visits.

Mr. Dubs

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

Mr. Mellor

Thirty-nine thousand four hundred and sixty one square feet.