§ Mr. CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest suicide of a prisoner in Armley gaol; what preventive measures were taken in screening prisoners; and how many recommendations to the chief inspector of prisons relating to Armley have been implemented.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe circumstances relating to this very sad death will be fully and openly investigated at the coroner's inquest. It would not be right for me to comment until the jury has reached its verdict on the cause of death.
The hon. Member will be aware, from the statement which my right hon. Friend made on publication of the report by Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons into Leeds prison last year, that the Government are fully committed to improving conditions in the prison. The task is a substantial one but much has already been achieved. Overcrowding has been considerably reduced and the treble occupancy of cells ended. Levels of out-of-cell activity for prisoners have improved. The length of family visits to prisoners has sharply increased; it is now common for unconvicted prisoners to enjoy regular visits of 45 minutes or longer. Meanwhile, a major redevelopment programme is under way, which will see the building of two new wings and a new hospital, kitchen and sports hall by 1992, and in due course the refurbishment of the whole establishment, including the provision of integral sanitation. The new establishment opening this year at Moorland, near Doncaster, will provide considerable relief for Leeds. In particular, it will offer more suitable accommodation for all the young unconvicted prisoners currently held at Leeds and Hull prisons.