§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount of time prisoners spent unlocked(a) for each prison, (b) for each prison type and (c) for the whole Prison Service, (i) for each month since January 1996 and (ii) for each year since 1989–90. [15976]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 20 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the average amount of time prisoners spent unlocked (a) for each prison, (b) for each prison type and (c) for the whole Prison Service, (i) for each month since January 1996 and (ii) for each year since 1989–90.Tables giving details of the information you requested have been placed in the Library. Time out of cell figures are not available for individual prisons prior to April 1994 so the yearly figures you requested are for April 1994 and April 1995 only.