Brockhill Remand Centre (Hansard, 12 April 1988)

§ Mr. Meale
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if consideration has been given to the recommendation in the Chief Inspector of Prisons report on the Brockhill remand centre to the effect that regular meetings be held between the governors of remand centres and prison department officials to identify common problems and solutions; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Existing regional and national conferences should normally provide an adequate opportunity for discussion of matters common to particular classes of establishment. But we do not rule out the possibility at some future date of an ad hoc conference along the lines suggested by the chief inspector.

§ Mr. Meale
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the context of his response to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons report on Brockhill remand centre, he will indicate(a) if routine monitoring of the allocation of prisoners from ethnic minorities to accommodation and work has been introduced; if disciplinary charges are recorded according to race; and if time has been allocated on the essential task list for the work of the race relations liaison officer and (b) what steps have been or are due to be taken to improve the state of accommodation and the poverty of the regime at Brockhill.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The position is as follows (a) yes, except that the number of adjudications by race is monitored regularly (one week per month) but not continuously; and (b) considerable improvements have been made. Defective windows have been replaced and floor surfaces repaired; improvements to the kitchen and servery have been carried out and repairs to the activity centre, recess areas, and waiting accommodation for visitors completed. An additional association and activities room has been provided for D wing and day-time association has been increased for other wings. Visits have been extended for 15 minutes to up to two hours.

§ Mr. Meale
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken in response to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on Brockhill remand centre, and in particular(a) what action is being 3W taken to reduce the proportion of prisoners who are unemployed and who spend 15 to 20 hours per day in their cells and (b) what plans exist to provide integral sanitation and to improve sanitary facilities on the landings.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The chief inspector made a total of 95 recommendations. Many of the deficiencies identified have been remedied. In particular, following the introduction of new working arrangements known as fresh start, the frequency of day-time association has been increased for inmates on all wings and an additional association and activities room has been provided for D wing. Those inmates not in employment are now offered education classes, on a roster basis. The length of visits has also been extended considerably. Remedial repairs have been carried out to existing sanitary facilities and a continuous programme of cleaning and repairs has been introduced. There are no plans to introduce integral sanitation in advance of the intended closure of the establishment in 1990 and its conversion to other use.

§ Mr. Meale
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the context of his response to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on Brockhill remand centre he will indicate whether(a) prisoners now receive one kit change per week, (b) any remand prisoners are still sharing accommodation with convicted prisoners and (c) there are now pillows in all cells and fire retardant covers for all mattresses.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The position is as follows :
(a) it is now the normal practice for kit to be changed twice a week;

(b) no;

(c) yes.