HC Deb 31 July 1997 vol 299 c574W
Mr. Mullin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisons which contain special secure units; how many places are available in each; and what is the annual cost of maintaining(a) a prisoner in a special secure unit and (b) a category A prisoner. [11105]

Ms Quin

Those prisons which are equipped with special secure units and the places available in each are as follows: Belmarsh, 48 places; Full Sutton, eight places; and Whitemoor, 14 places. There are currently 40 prisoners held in special secure units.

The average cost per prisoner place in a special secure unit is estimated to be approximately £61,000 per annum1. Convicted category A prisoners are held in one of five dispersal prisons. The average cost per prisoner place in a dispersal prison is £33,000 per annum1. 1 Costs are based on figures obtained for the financial year ending 31 March 1997 and represent the cost per accommodation place certified to hold prisoners in an establishment.