HC Deb 04 March 1991 vol 187 c13W
Ms. Richardson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the overcrowding and lack of integral sanitation at Bullwood Hall and Styall women's prisons; and if he will give figures for the certified normal accommodation and the actual numbers for the last 12 months at these establishments.

Mrs. Rumbold

Some cells in Bullwood Hall are being shared because of the temporary withdrawal of 23 cells so that access to night sanitation can be provided by means of an electronic unlocking system. All the main areas of accommodation in the prison will have integral sanitation by February 1992 leaving only the hospital and segregation unit, and work will be carried out in these areas in 1992–93. There is no overcrowding in Styal prison and integral sanitation is currently being installed. Work on one house is complete and the two remaining houses will have integral sanitation by September 1991. All other areas of the prison have open access and therefore integral sanitation is not required.

The figure for the certified normal accommodation of Bullwood Hall is 119. The figure for Styal is normally 258, but has been reduced to 208 while refurbishment is carried out. The actual numbers of prisoners on the last Friday of the month for each of the previous 12 months were as follows:

Bullwood Halt Styal
1990
30 March 123 221
27 April 124 214
25 May 119 204
29 June 112 185
27 July 113 196
31 August 115 200
28 September 112 202
26 October 115 204
30 November 115 205
28 December 116 206
1991
25 January 105 197
22 February 105 200