HC Deb 19 November 1986 vol 105 cc196-7W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours in the most recent convenient week the workshops in Wormwood Scrubs prison were open; what was the average number of prisoners employed; how many classes took place arid for how many hours; what was the average number of prisoners in each class; and how much time on average each prisoner spent out of his cell during that week.

Mr. Mellor

In the week commencing 3 November 1986, the workshops were open for an average of 18 hours; an average of 470 prisoners were employed each working day in the workshops and on catering, maintenance, cleaning and other domestic tasks; 87 education classes (52 day-time, 35 evening) took place for a total of 209 hours; there were an average of eight prisoners in each class. It is not practical 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, associatiion, visits, use of the prison library and canteen and other out of cell activities.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average population of Wormwood Scrubs prison in the most recent convenient week.

Mr. Mellor

Prison population figures are collected centrally once a week. On 14 November 1986 HM prison Wormwood Scrubs held 1,405 prisoners.

Mr. Soley

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

Mr. Mellor

The number is 701.

Mr. Soley

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

The number of baths, showers and toilets available are as follows:

Number
Baths 4
Showers 128
WCs 96
Urinals 93

Each prisoner is normally allowed one shower per week and an additional shower when he makes use of the gymnasium. Additional showers are available for prisoners employed on jobs of a physically dirty nature or on return from court appearances. When appropriate for medical reasons a bath is available instead of a shower. Prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs have one change of clothes per week consisting of one shirt, one T-shirt, two pairs of socks, two pairs of underpants and two vests. Overclothing is changed as necessary, but on return from court prisoners receive a full kit of clean clothes.

Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many square feet of exercise space is available to prisoners in Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Mr. Mellor

The amount is 48,870 sq ft in exercise yards and 6,780 sq ft in the sports hall.

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