Ashford Remand Centre

HC Deb 17 July 1987 vol 119 cc656-7W

Mr. Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy is followed at Ashford remand centre in allowing visits to people being held on remand; on what days visits are allowed; how people are informed of this and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

Because of a substantial increase in the population of Ashford remand centre and the limited accommodation available for visits, my right hon. Friend authorised, exceptionally, last year a reduction in the minimum of 15 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays normally allowed for visits to remand prisoners. The current provision at Ashford is for 15-minute visits on alternate weekdays with 10-minute visits on Saturdays. Inmates are informed of the visiting arrangements on arrival at the establishment and details are contained in notices on all landings. When next of kin are notified of an inmate's reception, information on visiting arrangements is provided. In addition, details are displayed on notices in the visitors' centre outside the remand centre, at the gate and in the passage leading to the visits room.

Ordinary Visitors and business visitors admitted to the United Kingdom between November 1985 and March 1987
Number
		Nationality
		India	Pakistan	Bangladesh	Ghana	Nigeria
	VISITORS
	1985
	November	7,080	3,300	520	1,730	9,280
	December	8,490	4,120	600	1,820	12,760
	1986
	January	5,070	2,930	420	1,250	8,020
	February	5,890	2,640	340	1,140	7,100
	March	6,970	3,940	500	1,270	9,100
	April	10,220	5,140	580	1,160	8,020
	May	18,350	6,120	980	1,510	10,110
	June	20,410	10,040	1,080	1,670	10,410
	July	19,960	14,770	1,600	2,730	20,420
	August	16,740	8,750	1,360	2,920	19,200
	September	13,210	6,210	1,060	2,000	12,320
	October	8,520	4,340	850	1,290	5,660
	November	5,450	2,610	500	810	3,480
	December	4,730	3,090	510	970	4,400
	1987
	January	3,730	2,130	400	680	3,500
	February	3,710	1,880	310	590	1,750
	March	4,890	2,650	380	680	1,930
	BUSINESS VISITORS
	1985
	November	2,280	1,090	180	770	5,400
	December	1,680	650	190	590	2,950
	1986
	January	1,970	680	100	500	4,320
	February	2,260	760	120	590	5,530
	March	2,340	870	110	510	5,280
	April	2,530	1,060	160	610	5,330
	May	3,290	1,170	210	700	5,830
	June	2,940	1,010	180	600	5,460
	July	2,650	1,080	150	530	5,520
	August	2,000	890	150	620	4,080
	September	4,030	1,150	170	680	5,650
	October	2,780	1,050	170	570	3,320
	November	2,490	930	150	570	2,820
	December	1,480	690	110	370	1,820
	1987
	January	1,950	780	90	460	1,850
	February	2,110	710	100	490	1,820
	March	2,510	920	100	620	2,820