Mr. Robert AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to relieve the pressure on capacity at Winson Green prison; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility 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 Derek Lewis to Mr. Robert Ainsworth, dated 26 April 1994:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about capacity at Winson Green prison.The certified normal accommodation for Birmingham prison is 562. On 20 April 1994, 733 prisoners were held at Birmingham, which was 64 less than the operational capacity of 797. Operational capacity is the total number of prisoners which an establishment can hold while sustaining good order, security and the proper running of the planned regime.96WSome 150 additional places will be available at Birmingham later this year when current refurbishment work in G Wing is completed.