Manchester Prison

HC Deb 26 July 1984 vol 64 cc771-2W

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available to prisoners in Manchester 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. Hurd

There are 15 baths, 78 showers, 149 toilets and 87 urinals. The basic allowance is one bath or shower per week. Additional showers are provided where appropriate because of the nature of prisoners' work, or activities, or for medical reasons. Each prisoner has a weekly allowance of two shirts, one vest, two pairs of underpants and two pairs of socks.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken since 1981 on the Chief Inspector of Prisons' recommendations that the regime at Manchester prison be improved, that the sports hall be brought into use and that alternative accommodation be provided for visits to unconvicted and unsentenced prisoners.

Mr. Hurd

Since the inspection, the inmate population has fallen by about 400 and 36 additional staff are in post. Industry is being expanded where possible and a mailbag shop has recently been opened. The number of inmates employed in the workshops has risen from 40 at the time of the inspection to about 200. The educational provision at the prison remains, as recommended, at the 1981 level,

Mr. Hurd

The proportions recommended for parole are given in the following table:

released on parole (i) on their first application, (ii) on their second application and (iii) on their third or subsequent application.

Mr. Hurd

The proportions recommended for parole are given in the following table. Prisoners serving sentences of less than a year were not eligible for parole.

but because of shortage of accommodation, it has not proved possible to expand the vocational training courses in industrial techniques. The library facilities have been greatly improved. The sports hall has been brought fully into use. A new visits room has been open for unsentenced and unconvicted prisoners. A waiting area for visitors, which will include toilet facilities, is being prepared.