HC Deb 10 July 1989 vol 156 cc361-3W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each month since April(a) the minimum staffing levels agreed under fresh start and (b) the actual staffing levels, for Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The minimum staffing levels agreed under fresh start at HMP Wakefield as at April 1988 were:

Morning Afternoon Evening
Saturday and Sunday 80–84 91–99 72
Monday and Friday 99 98 78
Tuesday 101 101 82
Wednesday and Thursday 101 119 82

The only subsequent change to these levels is that since April 1989 the provision for Saturday and Sunday mornings is now 80 to 82. The number of officers in post (including principal and senior officers) at HMP Wakefield in each month since 1 April 1988 is as follows:

Numbers
1988
April 406
May 420
June 423
July 425
August 425
September 424
October 423
November 422
December 422
1989
January 417
February 418
March 418
April 426
May 425
June 425

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since April 1988 it has not been possible to undertake routine strip searches on prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield, following domestic visits, because of staffing shortages.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Strip searches are in most cases carried out at the discretion of local management, and have been conducted as considered necessary.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since April 1988 the association time of rule 43 prisoners in Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield, has been curtailed due to staffing shortages.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

I understand that loss of association for vulnerable prisoners occurred on four occasions, none of which was due to staff shortages.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the frequency of routine cell searches at Her Majesty's prison, Wakefield.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

It is not the practice to disclose detailed information about security arrangements such as the frequency of cell searches.