HC Deb 21 November 1986 vol 105 cc370-1W
Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours in the most recent convenient week the workshops in Liverpool prison were open; what was the average number of prisoners employed; 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 23½ hours; an average of 719 prisoners were employed each working day in the workshops and on catering, maintenance, cleaning and other domestic tasks; 72 education classes (46 day-time and 26 evening) took place for a total of 183 hours; there were an average of 7.5 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, association, visits, use of the prison library and canteen and other out-of-cell activities.

Mr. Irving

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers and toilets are available to prisoners in Liverpool 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 numbers of baths, showers and toilets available are as follows:

No.
Baths 12
Showers 60
WCs 119
Urinals 159

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 and on return from court appearances. When appropriate for medical reasons a bath is available instead of a shower.

Prisoners at Liverpool have one change of clothes per week consisting of two shirts, 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. Irving

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

Mr. Mellor

Seven hundred and sixty.

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