HC Deb 13 June 1985 vol 80 c494W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the effect on the certified normal accommodation of Crescent hall, Stafford prison, of the introduction of integral sanitation; what is the rationale behind the new certified normal accommodation; how the space available in a cell now certified fit for double occupation in Crescent hall compares with that in a double cell in a new prison;. and if he will make a statement on the implications of the change in certified normal accommodation in this case for estimates as to the cell loss anticipated from the introduction of integral sanitation into all local prisons and remand centres.

Mr. Mellor

The scheme to introduce integral sanitation in the crescent wing at Stafford was approved as a pilot project. One half of the wing was completed in September 1984, and the new facilities are being evaluated in use. It is expected that work on the second half of the wing will be completed later this year. The pilot scheme was approved on the basis that there would be no loss of certified normal accommodation. The proposal was to use some of the refurbished cells, which differ in size, for single occupancy and some as two-man cells, and the current cell certificates reflect this position. The size of the two-man cells is approximately l0.15m2including 2.25m 2provided by the separate toilet annex. The size of two-man cells being planned for new establishments is not less than 9.2m2, inclusive of the sanitary annex. No implications for any change in certified normal accommodation in local prisons and remand centres can be drawn until the Stafford scheme is complete and fully evaluated.