HC Deb 25 July 1984 vol 64 cc648-9W
Mr. Dubs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of prisoners who can be employed in workshops in Wandsworth prison on any one day.

Mr. Hurd

Seven hundred and eighty-five.

Mr. Dubs

asked 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 Wandsworth 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 each prisoner spent out of his cell during that week.

Mr. Hurd

During the week ending 30 June seven workshops at Wandsworth prison were open on average for 14.4 hours employing an average of 39 prisoners. In addition, a further 297 prisoners were employed on various domestic and maintenance duties. Eighty-four classes were held during the week with total class hours of 158.75 and the average number of prisoners attending each class was between eight and nine. It is not practicable to calculate the average amount of time spent out of cells since this covers many things apart from work and education, including for example, exercise, association, visits, medical treatment and applications to see the governor.