HC Deb 25 March 2004 vol 419 cc1016-7W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of prison cells in England and Wales were equipped with a television in each of the last 10 years. [163277]

Paul Goggins

Historical information on the number of cells in use and the number of cells with in-cell television is not kept centrally.

The Government announced that in-cell television would be made available across the prison estate as part of the incentives and earned privileges scheme, on 1 June 1998, Official Report, columns 50–51. Prior to 1998, only a small number of television sets were available in individual prisons. The number available was not centrally recorded. Figures for the number of televisions delivered to establishments in each year since 1998 are as follows.

Number
1998 10,388
1999 4,938
2000 12,477
2001 12,471
2002 11,455

These figures include replacement sets so do not relate directly to the number of televisions in use.