HC Deb 22 December 1981 vol 15 cc354-5W
Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the certified normal accommodation for Wandsworth prison; what is the latest figure for the prison's population; and how many baths, showers and toilets, classrooms, square feet of exercise space and workshop places are available to the prisoners.

Mr. Mayhew

The present CNA at Wandsworth is 1,258; the population on 30 November 1981 was 1,435. The prison has 54 baths, 9 showers, 310 toilets and urinals, 14 classrooms and approximately 7,000 square metres of outside exercise yards. There are 13 workshops which can accommodate up to 800 prisoners.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours the workshops in Wandsworth prison were open during the week ending 18 December or other recent typical week; what was the average number of prisoners employed; how many classes took place and for how many hours; what was the average number of inmates in each class; and how much time on average each prisoner spent out of his cell during that week.

Mr. Mayhew

During the week ending 12 December each of the workshops at Wandsworth prison was open on average for just over 12 hours employing a total of 651 prisoners. In addition, 29 prisoners segregated under rule 43 were employed on industrial work for 11 hours and a further 329 were employed on domestic services, maintenance and orderlies' duties.

Seventy-eight classes were held during the week with total class hours of 143; the average number of prisoners attending the classes each day was 115 and most classes comprised eight to 10.

The average time spent out of cells cannot be calculated with any accuracy because of the variety of activities involved but every effort is made to provide such opportunities within the constraints of the available resources.