HC Deb 21 May 1998 vol 312 cc451-2W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the staff, transport and subsistence costs incurred on each occasion other prisons had to provide staff to support Parc Prison, Bridgend; what effect this had on staffing levels at the prisons which provided staff; how many prison officers are employed at Parc and at each of the prisons which provide staff in proportion to the number of prisoners; and if Parc' s staffing level was at full complement at the time of each occasion when other prisons provided staff. [42070]

Ms Quin

Parc Prison has requested assistance from neighbouring prisons for help with disturbances on three occasions since it opened on 17 November 1997.

On 20 February 1998, a total of 43 staff from Swansea, Cardiff and Usk prisons provided assistance to Parc. The staffing costs were £1,788.00, and the travel and subsistence costs were £708.26. Swansea reports no effect on its staffing levels and Cardiff and Usk report minor disruption to regimes and association.

On 18 April, a total of 43 staff from Swansea, Cardiff and Bristol prisons provided assistance to Parc. The staffing costs were £1,806.00, and the travel and subsistence costs were £560.58. Swansea and Bristol prisons report no effect on their staffing levels and Cardiff reports minor disruption to regimes.

On 6 May, a total of 119 staff from Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Usk, Long Lartin, Gloucester and Erlestoke prisons provided assistance to Parc. The staffing costs were £11,199.00, and the travel and subsistence costs were £2,338.28. Usk and Erlestoke prisons report no significant effect on their staffing levels. Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol, Long Lartin and Gloucester prisons report minor disruption to regimes.

The number of staff and prisoners at Parc prison, and the establishments which assisted them on 6 May, is set out in the table (The staffing figures are for all unified staff):

Establishment Number of staff Number of prisoners
Parc 193 738
Bristol 334 599
Cardiff 258 700
Erlestoke 102 301
Gloucester 137 305
Long Lartin 634 379
Swansea 136 330
Usk 90 334

Parc Prison's staffing complement for the three occasions when assistance was provided was: on 20 February 1998, 211 staff in post against a target staff figure of 225; on 18 April 1998, 204 staff in post against a target staff figure of 225; and on 6 May 1998, 193 staff in post against a target staff figure of 225.