Wymott Prison (Hansard, 18 October 1993)

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were transferred out of Wymott; and to which establishments they were sent following the riots at Wymott prison.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the transfer of prisoners from Wymott following the riots. A total of 696 prisoners were transferred to the following establishments: 114W

Belmarsh

Birmingham

Blundeston

Chelmsford

Elmley

Full Sutton

Garth

Gloucester

Highdown

Highpoint

Holme House

Leeds

Leicester

Norwich

Pentonville

Preston

Shewsbury

Wakefield

Wandsworth

Wayland

Whitemoor

Winchester

Wormwood Scrubs

115W

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Chief Inspector of Prisons to report on the causes of the recent riots at Wymott prison.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
I received HM Chief Inspector of Prisons' report of his inquiry into the recent riot at Wymott prison on 30 September. The report is being carefully studied. I expect to publish it shortly.

§ Ms Ruddock
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the latest estimate of the cost of refurbishing Wymott prison in the wake of the recent riots.

§ Mr. Peter Lloyd
Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from D. Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 18 October 1993: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the cost of refurbishing Wymott prison following the disturbances there at the beginning of last month. If we were to reinstate the prison, which had an operational capacity of 768 places, as far as possible to its condition before the riot took place the cost would be in the region of £9 million. For the present, two of the four living units are being repaired and control measures strengthened so that they can be brought back into use for vulnerable prisoners. Work to A Wing was completed so that it could be re-occupied by prisoners within 14 days of the disturbance and work on B Wing is currently underway and should be finished by 1 November. Additional work to repair other essential parts of the prison affected by the riot is being undertaken at the same time. The repair work currently being undertaken is likely to cost approximately £6 million. We are currently reviewing the future of C and D Wings, which were more severely damaged.