Doncaster Prison (Hansard, 7 May 1996)

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the areas where Doncaster prison has performed to a higher standard than other private prisons since it opened. [27614]

§ Miss Widdecombe
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 7 May 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the areas where Doncaster prison has performed to a higher standard in relation to the other contracted-out prisons.
There is no proposal to make a qualitative evaluation of Doncaster prison's performance against that of any of the other contractually-managed prisons. This is because the factors that influence performance, which include size, function and population mix, are such as to make direct comparison difficult.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the key performance indicators for the running of Doncaster prison; and if he will list the statistics in respect of which performance indicators have been met since the prison opened. [27617]

§ Miss Widdecombe
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 7 May 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General, to reply to your recent Question about key performance indicators for the running of Doncaster prison.
Key performance indicators are specified in the contract, relating to the following areas of operation:

(1) Escapes from the prison. The contract requires that there should be no more than two by the end of the first year of operation, and no more than one in each subsequent year. There was one escape from Doncaster prison in the first year of operation, and there has been none since.

(2) Escapes from escort. The contract requires that there should be no more than eight escapes from escort in any of the first three years of the contract. There have been no escapes.

(3) Time out of cell. The requirement of a minimum 12 hours per day for prisoners on normal location has been met.

(4) Positive regimes. The contract requires the availability of at least 12 hours of regime activities, including education, for prisoners on normal location, and also the availability of at least 6 hours per week of education and training for adult prisoners, and 15 for young prisoners under 17. These targets have been achieved.

(5) Visits. The contract requirement is for the statutory minimum for visits as set out in Prison Rules. This requirement has been exceeded at Doncaster prison.

(6) Grievances. The contract requires that 90 per cent of grievances capable of resolution at prison level, be resolved within seven working days. The level achieved for the first contractual year was 95 per cent, and the level for the current contractual year is running at 100 per cent.
79
(7) Assaults. The contract required no more than 148 assaults on prisoners, and no more than 77 assaults on staff by the end of the first year of operation. For the second year, a level of 215 assaults has been set. The total number of assaults for the first contractual year was 221, and is projected to be 154 for the current year.
In addition to the contractual requirements, the performance of Doncaster prison is measured against the Service-wide key performance indicators. These figures are provided in the Prison Service Annual Reports.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the security cameras currently operating at Doncaster prison are constantly monitored; how many officers are on duty per shift monitoring the security camera; how many security cameras are in operation at any one time; and for how long the videotape recordings made by the cameras are stored. [27618]

§ Miss Widdecombe
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 7 May 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about whether the security cameras currently operating at Doncaster prison are constantly monitored; how many officers are on duty per shift monitoring the security cameras; how many security cameras are in operation at any one time; and for how long the videotape recordings made by the camera are stored.
The security cameras are constantly monitored and have videotape facilities. Doncaster prison holds high risk prisoners and I am sure that you will understand that to provide the remaining information which you have requested might prejudice security at the prison.