§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average population of Leeds prison in the week ended 14 July, or any other recent typical week.
§ Mr. HurdOn 13 July 1984 the population of Leeds prison was about 1,240. Average weekly populations are not recorded centrally.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours in the week ended 14 July, or any other recent typical week, the workshops in Leeds prison were open; 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 did each prisoner spend out of his cell during that week.
§ Mr. HurdDuring the week ending 30 June, seven workshops at Leeds prison were open on average for 16 hours employing on average 38 prisoners. In addition, a further 92 prisoners were employed on various domestic and maintenance duties. Eighty-one classes were held during the week with total class hours of 174½, and the average number of prisoners attending each class was eight. It is not practicable to calculate the average amount of time spent out of cells since this covers many things besides work and education, including, for example, exercise, association, visits, medical treatment and applications to see the governor.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of prisoners who can be employed in workshops in Leeds prison on any one day.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available to prisoners in Leeds prison; how many baths or showers each prisoner is allowed per week; and how many changes of clothes each prisoner is allowed per week.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many square feet of exercise space are available to prisoners in Leeds prison.
§ Mr. HurdThirty-one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-two sq ft in exercise yards; 1,689 sq ft in the gymnasium; and 5,490 sq ft in the sports area.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to improve the unsatisfactory conditions for rule 43 prisoners at Leeds prison, which were criticised by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in 1981.
§ Mr. HurdSince the publication of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' report in 1981, the landings at Her Majesty's prison Leeds where prisoners segregated under prison rule 43 for their own protection are located have been physically separated from the remainder of the prison. The prisoners concerned now have association in the afternoons and evenings over the weekend and work is available in the sewing machine shop. Additionally, a shower unit has been installed and a hot plate has been provided.