§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the security cameras currently operating at Buckley Hall prison are constantly monitored; and for how long the videotape recording made by the cameras are stored. [20918]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility 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.
Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about whether the security cameras at Buckley Hall prison are monitored constantly and for how long the video recording made by the cameras are stored.
Security cameras at Buckley Hall are monitored constantly. Video recordings made are held for one week before being taped over, unless they are considered to be useful for future use, in which case they would be held for a longer period.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted escapes have been recorded at Buckley Hall prison since its opening; and what was the average number for male category C training prisons over the same period. [20920]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility 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.
Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many attempted escapes have been recorded at Buckley Hall prison since its opening; and the average number of attempted escapes for male category C training prisons for the same period.
The number of attempted escape incidents reported from Buckley Hall prison since its opening on 14 December 1994 to 29 February 1996 is three.
The average number of attempted escape incidents reported during that period for male category C prisons is 1.6.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department(a) what is the average absenteeism rate among prison officers at Buckley Hall prison and (b) what is the average absenteeism rate amongst prison officers at male category C training prisons. [20923]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility 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.
Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about average absenteeism rates among prison officers at Buckley Hall and male Category C training prisons.
Questions about staff issues at Buckley Hall prison are a matter for the contractors, Group 4, and I am unable to provide information about absenteeism at that establishment.
You also ask about absence rates per uniformed prison officer in male Category C training prisons. Information on sick absence (which accounts for virtually all absence form work apart from 154W annual leave), is that, the average sick absence was eight days per officer during the period April 1995-February 1996. (These figures relate to basic grade prison officers, senior officers and principal officers).
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 March,Official Report, column 445, what steps are being taken to eradicate smuggling into Buckley Hall prison through items being thrown over the prison fence. [20924]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility 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.
Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the steps being taken at Buckley Hall prison to eradicate smuggling through items being thrown over the prison's fence.
Every effort is being made at Buckley Hall to eradicate smuggling through items being thrown over the prison fence, by prohibiting the access of prisoners to the most vulnerable sections and twice daily checking of these areas by staff.
Arrangements are being made for the installation of additional fencing at the most vulnerable points of the prison fence which, it is expected, will reduce the potential for this method of smuggling by 80 per cent. There will also be more stringent policing of other areas of fencing.
Consideration is also being given to the installation of external cameras so as to allow early warning to be given to the police in the event of any cause for concern arising.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have received authorized leave from Buckley Hall prison after protesting on the prison hospital's roof because of the denial of authorized leave. [21272]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.
Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have received authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison after protesting on the prison hospital's roof because of the denial of authorised leave.
One prisoner has been given authorised leave from Buckley Hall after a protest regarding the cancellation of a period of leave. The temporary release was granted to allow him to attend a job interview and was completed successfully.