§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is(a) the average and (b) the maximum number of hours that young people being held at Feltham are kept in solitary confinement in their cells;
(2) if he will state the average number of hours per day that young offenders are held alone in cells in Feltham young offenders institution.
§ Mrs. Rumbold[holding answers 26 November 1991 and 2 December 1991]: Solitary confinement is not a term used in the prison service, though there will be times when, for a variety of reasons, young people will be alone in their cells.
It is not possible to give an average figure for the amount of time spent by young people alone in their cells in Feltham young offenders institution. Generally, however, all prisoners who are accommodated in single cells will be alone between 9 in the evening and 8 the following morning. During the day, young prisoners on the convicted side of the establishment will be out of their cells for about seven to eight hours each day during the week and for about five to six hours during the weekend, on top of which they will receive any visits to which they are entitled. On the unconvicted side of the establishment, young prisoners will spend five to six hours out of their cells, plus any visits they are allowed to receive.