HC Deb 27 July 1988 vol 138 cc263-4W
Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take action to ensure that prisoners at Durham prison get clean underwear more than once every four weeks.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

At Durham prison prisoners are issued with two sets of clean underwear each week. I understand that difficulties with supplies have occasionally resulted in clean underwear not being available immediately after bathing, but in that event prisoners have been able to collect a change of underwear within a few days.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many long-term prisoners are there in Durham prison; and what is the maximum number laid down in the relevant regulation.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

On Friday 22 July Durham prison held 149 adult male prisoners who had been sentenced to over four years' imprisonment and 36 female prisoners and 20 young offenders who had been sentenced to over three years' imprisonment. The number of long-term prisoners held in the prison is not governed by regulation.

Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many toilets are there in the prison wings at Durham; how many prisoners and staff they cater for; how many toilets there are in the new administration block; and how many they cater for.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The information requested is as follows:

Wing facilities
WCs Urinals
For inmates 47 47
For staff 8 5

As at 22 July 1988, there were 1,138 inmates in Durham prison and 200 members of staff were engaged on wing duties.

Administration unit facilities
WCs Urinals
Female 3
Male 3 3

As at 22 July 1988, there were 41 staff employed in the administration unit.

Mr. Irving

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many baths, showers, toilets and urinals are available for inmates at Bedford prison.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The information requested is as follows:

Facilities Numbers available to inmates and in use
Baths 9
Showers 18
WCs 37
Urinals 31