HC Deb 17 March 1997 vol 292 cc403-6W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasions(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners in HMP Holloway are required to be strip searched; if he will place in the Library the regulations concerning how such body searches should be carried out; what training is given to officers to ensure such searches are conducted in accordance with the law; if prisoners who are pregnant are exempt from such body searches; and if he will make a statement. [19739]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 11 March 1997]: Responsibility 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Max Madden, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about strip searching of prisoners. Both remand and convicted prisoners at Holloway are strip searched on first reception, before leaving the prison on any escort, and on their subsequent return; when their cells are searched in accordance with the local searching strategy (roughly once a month); and if they are received into the segregation unit. In addition, prisoners are liable to random strip searches after visits. The governor may also require a strip search on any occasion when this is necessary for security. The regulations covering strip searches are contained in Prison Rule 39, and in the Prison Service Manual on Security, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Prison officers are trained in the authorised procedures for strip searching on their initial training course and receive refresher training as required. Pregnant women are not exempt from strip searches. Strip searching is a routine and necessary security measure to which all prisoners are subject. It enables prison officers to detect items of contraband, such as drugs or a weapon, which may be concealed about the person. It is not possible to detect some illicit items by use of X-ray portals or hand-held metal detectors.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners, detained at Her Majesty's prison Holloway over the last year have been required to authorise the destruction of flowers sent to them; and what arrangements exist for prisoners to request that flowers which they have received are placed in other parts of the prison. [19741]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 11 March 1997]: Responsibility 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Max Madden, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the requirement for prisoners to authorise the destruction of flowers sent to them at Holloway prison and the arrangements for prisoners to request that flowers are placed in other parts of the prison. No prisoners have been required to authorise the destruction of flowers at Holloway prison. There are no established arrangements for prisoners to request that flowers they have received are placed in other parts of the prison.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for the education programmes at HMP Holloway in 1997; what assessment he has made of the impact of those plans on prisoners, with particular reference to the amount of time spent confined to cells; and if he will make a statement. [19745]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 11 March 1997]: Responsibility 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Max Madden, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about education programmes at Holloway prison. There are no plans to make any changes to the level of educational provision at Holloway prison during 1997. There is currently an average of 80 prisoners on the daytime programme, studying for 21 hours a week. There is an average of 18 prisoners on evening classes for 6 hours a week. The average time a prisoner at Holloway prison is unlocked is currently 10.5 hours per weekday.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances(a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners, detained at HMP Holloway, are required to accept deductions from income in respect of board and lodging charges; and if he will make a statement. [19742]

Miss Widdecombe

[holding answer 11 March 1997]: Responsibility 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 A. J. Pearson to Mr. Max Madden, dated 17 March 1997: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about deductions of income at Holloway prison in respect of board and lodging charges. Deductions are made from prisoners in jobs where they are paid 'real wages'. These prisoners contribute 25 per cent of their earnings to the prison—up to a maximum of £24 a week. There are currently six prisoners employed full-time in such positions, each earning an average of approximately £75 a week. In addition, up to 40 prisoners are employed on a casual basis earning on average approximately £20 a week. With the exception of one of the full-time positions—which involves working outside the prison and is therefore restricted to convicted prisoners—these jobs are open to both convicted and unconvicted prisoners.

Table 1: Red Book figures
£ million
Estimated capital investment 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Total
Bridgend Prison 37.0 0 0 37.0
Fazakerley Prison 37.0 0 0 37.0
Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)caseworking information technology system 21.0 0 0 21.0
Lowdham Grange Prison 24.0 0 0 24.0
Home Office Large Major Enquiry System II (information technology system) 0.5 0 0 0.5
Cookham Wood, Secure Training Centre (STC) 6.0 0 0 6.0
Gringley (STC) 10.0 0 0 10.0
Medomsley (STC) 5.0 5.0 10.0 10.0
Onley (STC) 5.0 5.0 0 10.0
STC 5 5.0 5.0 0 10.0
Design, Construct, Manage and Finance (DCMF)3(Prison) 6.0 37.0 37.0 80.0
DCMF 4 (Prison) 0 6.0 37.0 43.0
IND Detention Accommodation (South East District) 1.0 0 0 1.0
IND Detention Accommodation (Heathrow) 0 14.0 0 14.0
Home Office SW1 estate 10.0 30.0 10.0 50.0
Prisons/boilerhouses 9.0 3.0 0 12.0
Prisons/kitchens 8.0 0 0 8.0
Prisons/heath centres 3.0 0 0 3.0
Prisons major refurbishments 12.0 12.0 0 24.0
Prisons/other 2.0 0 0 2.0
Prisons/health information technology 0 6.0 0 6.0
Public Safety Radio Communications Project 0 10.0 40.0 50.0
Total 201.5 133.0 124.0 458.5

Table 2: Current revised figures
£ million
1997–98 1998–99 1990–00 Total
Bridgend prison 35.0 0 0 35.0
Fazakerley prison 41.0 0 0 41.0
Immigration and nationality directorate (IND)caseworking information technology system 21.0 0 0 21.0
Lowdham grange prison 24.0 0 0 24.0
Home office large major enquiry system II (information technology system) 0.5 0 0 0.5
Cookham wood, secure training centre (STC) 7.0 0 0 7.0
Gringley (STC) 10.0 0 0 10.0
Medomsley (STC) 3.0 7.0 0 10.0
Onley (STC) 10.0 0 0 10.0
STC 5 2.0 8.0 0 10.0
Design, Construct, Manage and Finance (DCMF)3(Prison) 6.0 35.0 35.0 76.0
DCMF 4(Prison) 6.0 35.0 35.0 76.0
IND detention accommodation (South East District) 1.0 0 0 1.0
IND detention accommodation (Heathrow) 0 14.0 0 14.0
Home Office SW1 estate 10.0 30.0 10.0 50.0
Prisons/boilerhouses 12.0 9.0 9.0 30.0
Prisons/kitchens 10.0 6.0 6.0 22.0
Prisons/health centres 0 1.0 1.0 2.0
Prisons/other 2.0 2.0 2.0 6.0
Prisons/health information technology 0 6.0 0 6.0
Public safety radio communications project 0 10 40 50
Total 200.5 163 138 501.5