§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the capacity of United Kingdom prisons, per category and in total, for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [2343]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Table 2: Certified normal accommodation in use on 30 June by Security Category, 1990–1994 Certified normal accommodation in use Security standard of accommodation 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 Closed Training Prisons (including Dispersal prisons) Category A, B and C 17,073 18,602 19,487 19,210 19,206 Local Prisons and Remand Centres Category B 13,593 13,823 15,565 16,206 18,103 Open Training Prisons Category D 3,496 3,434 3,674 3,581 3,745 Female Prisons (Closed and Open) — 1,773 1,776 1,765 1,782 1,863 All Young Offender Institutions — 6,869 6,240 5,748 5,867 5,374 Total 42,804 43,875 46,239 46,646 48,291 1994 Statistics are due to be published in January 1996.
§ Mr. CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest figure for the population in custody, per category and in total; and if he will make a statement. [2344]
768WLetter from Alan Walker to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 29 November 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the capacity of United Kingdom prisons, by category and in total for each of the last five years for which figures are available.Prisons in England and Wales are defined by operational function and an establishment will have, according to its particular function, accommodation designed for holding prisoners up to a particular security category.Information on the security standard of accommodation available on 23 November 1995 at closed and open training prisons and local prisons in England and Wales is given in table one, attached.The only information available for the previous five years (1990–95) is that published annually in "Prisons Statistics, England and Wales". This information is given in table two.
Table 1: Certified normal accommodation for use in prisons in England and Wales by Security Category and in total on 23 November 1995 Security standard of accommodation Certified normal accommodation in use Closed Training Prisons (Dispersals) Category A 3,698 Belmarsh Prison Category A 48 Category A unit Other Closed Training Category B 3,022 Prisons Category C 14,414 Local Prisons and Remand Centres Category B 18,606 Open Training Prisons Category D 3,893 Closed Female Prisons — 1,520 Open Female Prisons — 593 Closed Young Offender Institutions — 4,052 Open Young Offender Institutions — 1,482 Total 51,328 Notes:
1. Some of the more secure local prisons also hold Category A prisoners as and when necessary. A formal maximum number of places for this purpose is not designated.
2. With the exception of those categorised A, convicted and sentenced female prisoners and young offenders are not normally categorised, but are allocated to open or closed conditions.
3. There are currently only three sentenced Category A female prisoners. All are held at Durham Prison.
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
769WLetter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 29 November 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the latest prison population figure by category of prisoner and in total.The information requested is given in the attached table.
Number of prisoners held in England and Wales on 23 November 1995 by category and in total Number Category A 826 Category B 7,969 Category C 17,529 Category D 2,926 Uncategorised or awaiting categorisation 23,161 Total 52,411 1. Female prisoners and young offenders are only given a security category when category A is applicable. 2. Unless category A is applicable, adult male prisoners are not given a security category until after conviction and sentence.