§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average number of inspections carried out in each of her Majesty's prisons for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [16661]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 26 February 1996]: Since January 1990, Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons has carried out 245 inspections in the 131 Prison Service establishments in England and Wales, an average of nearly two inspections per establishment.
The total number of inspections undertaken by Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons in each year is as follows:
- 1990–91: 56 (from 1 January 1990 to 31 March 1991)
- 1991–92: 44
- 1992–93: 42
- 1993–94: 40
- 1994–95: 33
- 1995–96: 30 (from April 1995 to date)