§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of construction of a new protected cell in a prison hospital: how many and which prison hospitals now contain such new cells; and what is his policy concerning the contruction of further such cells.
§ Mr. MellorThe standard for protected rooms to accommodate violent or seriosly disturbed patients in prison hospitals has recently been reviewed, and prototype protected rooms equipped to a new standard which includes a padded wall lining material and improved observation, ventilation and heating, have been installed at Birmingham and Holloway prisons by converting existing hospital accommoadtion. In addition, experimental tests of the lining material only have been carried out at Bedford prison. The total cost of the building and engineering work at Birmingham was £15,200 and the estimated cost of the work at Holloway is £12,600. It is not possible at present to say what the cost of a protected room to the higher standard in a new prison hosptial would be, but the cost of the wall lining material (which is included in the costs of the Birmingham and Holloway rooms) is £3,600. If these prototype rooms prove successful in operational use, similarly equipped rooms will be made a standard requirement in all new and refurbished prison hosptials.