§ Mr. Alex Carlileasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what use the existing purpose-built replacement hospital block at Wormwood Scrubs prison is currently being put; how much has been spent on its construction; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThere is as yet no purpose-built replacement hospital block at Wormwood Scrubs prison, and the hospital is at present operating in temporary accommodation in B wing. As part of the original redevelopment plan for the prison, the old hospital building was to have been refurbished and improved. When that redevelopment scheme was abandoned in 1983, £762,000 had been spent on the provision of a new roof and limited structural alterations, but to have brought it up to an acceptable standard to meet health and safety and fire requirements would have involved much additional work and cost, which it was decided could not be justified.
A very small part of the old hospital building is being used for storage, and part of its mechanical services are operational to provide a feeder service to the nearby visits building. It is otherwise not in use. At a later stage, however, it will play an essential part in the redevelopment programme by providing temporary accommodation for a number of individual units, including the farms and gardens unit, clothing exchange stores and works department, when their existing buildings have been demolished to make way for permanent replacement facilities.
As part of the redevelopment we propose to provide a permanent hospital and operating theatre within a new building linking the four existing wings of the prison. Subject to the necessary financial and planning procedures, it is hoped that work on this new building will begin in 1988 and be completed in 1991.