PRISON SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS (Hansard, 27 April 1988)

§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullington
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of the daily average prison population has: (i) integral sanitation; (ii) access to sanitary facilities throughout 24 hours; (iii) enforced use of chamber pots; and (iv) enforced use of chamber pots while sharing a cell.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)
Information in the form requested is not available. Calculated as a percentage of certified normal accommodation at 31st December 1987, 48 per cent. of places had integral sanitation or 24-hour access to sanitation.

§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullington
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current ratio of bath/showers, WCs, urinals, slop sinks and washbasins to prisoners on wings in the following prisons—Bullwood Hall, Leeds, Oxford, Leicester, Risley and Stafford.

Earl Ferrers
The information requested is set out in the table.

Establishment Ratio of Item/Present Prison Population April 1988

Bath/Showers WCs Urinals Slop Sinks Wash Basins

Risley 1:11 1:6 1:8 1:20 1:3

Bullwood Hall 1:7 1:6 — 1:17 1:4

Leicester 1:9 1:13 1:18 1:27 1:10

Oxford 1:15 1:25^* 1:50^* 1:28^* 1:50^*

Stafford 1:9 1:3 1:10 1:26 1:3

Leeds 1:27 1:11^** — — —

^*These ratios will be improved by 50 per cent, by current redevelopment work.

^**No breakdown of figures between WCs and urinals. Redevelopment work is underway which will improve these ratios.

Ratios per wing can be obtained only at disporportionate cost.

§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullington
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of chamber pots used by prisoners at the following establishments have lids—Bullwood Hall, Leeds, Oxford, Leicester, Risley and Stafford.

Earl Ferrers
All chamber pots used in Prison Service establishments are issued with lids and there is not thought to be any general problem about the availability of lids in the named establishments. Information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
290WA

§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullington
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the longest period each day or night during which slopping out is not available at the following prisons—Bullwood Hall, Leeds, Oxford, Leicester, Risley and Stafford.

Earl Ferrers
Overnight, for between 11 and 12 hours, except for about half the inmates (400) at Stafford, who are in cells with integral sanitation.

§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullington
asked Her Majesty's Government:
During the last two months how many baths or showers and changes of clean clothes and underwear did prisoners have per week at the following prosions— Bullwood Hall, Leeds, Oxford, Leicester, Risley and Stafford.

Earl Ferrers
The following table sets out the arrangements which currently apply in each of the establishments named. Actual practice during the past two months has generally conformed to these arrangements.

Establishment Bath/Shower Frequency Change of Clothes

Bullwood Hall, Youth Custody Centre and Prison Baths may be taken whenever the inmates are in association and all will do so at least once a week. Female inmates wear ordinary clothing and do their own laundry. Each inmate has 3 or 4 sets of clothing at any one time.

Leeds Prison^* At least once a week. 2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.

Oxford Prison^* At least once a week and usually twice. 2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.

Leicester Prison^* At least once a week for all inmates and daily for those employed in the kitchen and on the works party. 2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.

Risley Remand Centre

Male^* Once a week. Shirts, underwear and socks are changed once a week, other clothing as necessary.

Female Up to once daily, subject to personal wishes of the inmate. Inmates do their own laundry. If an inmate has insufficient clothing of her own up to 3 sets will be provided by the establishment.

Stafford Prison At least once a week for all inmates and more often for the majority. 2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.

^*At these establishments, unconvicted inmates may arrange their own supply of clean clothing.

291WA

§ Lord Hutchinson of Lullington
asked Her Majesty's Government:
In which penal establishments has the Prison Department tried out a system of electronic unlocking to allow inmates to use communal toilets at night, with what success and at what cost per cell or per prisoner.

Earl Ferrers
Electronic unlocking has been installed at Coldingley, Long Lartin, Albany and Blundeston. Systems at the first three establishments are now obsolete, and control equipment from Albany has been removed to provide spares for Coldingley and Long Lartin. An enhanced control system is on trial at Blundeston, and has proved292WA successful to date. The cost per cell for an installation by competitive contract is £3,500.

Establishment Ratio of Item/Present Prison Population April 1988
	Bath/Showers	WCs	Urinals	Slop Sinks	Wash Basins
Risley	1:11	1:6	1:8	1:20	1:3
Bullwood Hall	1:7	1:6	—	1:17	1:4
Leicester	1:9	1:13	1:18	1:27	1:10
Oxford	1:15	1:25^*	1:50^*	1:28^*	1:50^*
Stafford	1:9	1:3	1:10	1:26	1:3
Leeds	1:27	1:11^**	—	—	—
^*These ratios will be improved by 50 per cent, by current redevelopment work.
^**No breakdown of figures between WCs and urinals. Redevelopment work is underway which will improve these ratios.

Establishment	Bath/Shower Frequency	Change of Clothes
Bullwood Hall, Youth Custody Centre and Prison	Baths may be taken whenever the inmates are in association and all will do so at least once a week.	Female inmates wear ordinary clothing and do their own laundry. Each inmate has 3 or 4 sets of clothing at any one time.
Leeds Prison^*	At least once a week.	2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.
Oxford Prison^*	At least once a week and usually twice.	2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.
Leicester Prison^*	At least once a week for all inmates and daily for those employed in the kitchen and on the works party.	2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.
Risley Remand Centre
Male^*	Once a week.	Shirts, underwear and socks are changed once a week, other clothing as necessary.
Female	Up to once daily, subject to personal wishes of the inmate.	Inmates do their own laundry. If an inmate has insufficient clothing of her own up to 3 sets will be provided by the establishment.
Stafford Prison	At least once a week for all inmates and more often for the majority.	2 sets of clean underwear and socks and 2 clean shirts are issued each week. Other clothing is changed as necessary.
^*At these establishments, unconvicted inmates may arrange their own supply of clean clothing.