HL Deb 16 July 2001 vol 626 cc98-9WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many inmates in HM Prisons in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland respectively are kept in their cells for 23 hours a day, and in which establishments they are being detained; and what are the relevant categories of inmates kept m such conditions. [HL145]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker)

The information is not available in precisely the form requested, but there is no prison in England or Wales where the normal regime entails prisoners being routinely locked in their cells for 23 hours a day.

The following table shows average weekly purposeful hours and average weekday time out of cell by category of prison.

Average weekly purposeful hours YTD May 2001 Average weekday time out of cell May 2001
Male local 19.4 8.7
High security 18.5 9.0
Cat B 24.6 10.0
Cat C 25.6 11.3
Male open 41.6 19.6

Average weekly purposeful hours YTD May 2001 Average weekday time out of cell May 2001
Male remand centre 20.0 7.4
Male closed YOI 22.7 7.9
Male open YOI 40.2 12.8
Male juvenile 27.7 10.6
Female local 22.1 8.9
Female closed 26.5 11.4
Female open 33.7 19.0
Total prison Service 23.2 10.0

These are average figures for all prisoners in the establishments.

Individual prisoners could spend longer periods locked in their cells when segregated for reasons of good order or discipline, as part of a disciplinary punishment, or for their own protection or the protection of others. Details of these prisoners are not collated centrally, but efforts are made to move them to a location where they can participate in a more active regime. Prisoners are also likely to be locked up if they refuse the out-of-cell activities available.

There are 16 category A prisoners and 5 category B prisoners in close supervision centres and other parts of the High Security estate whose behaviour is assessed as being so disruptive and dangerous that restricted conditions of segregation are necessary for the safety of staff and other prisoners.

Responsibility for prisons in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive, who should be approached for the relevant information.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their programme and timetable to end the practice of keeping prisoners in cells for 23 hours a day in HM prisons in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland respectively. [HL146]

Lord Rooker

There is no prison in England or Wales where the normal regime entails prisoners being routinely locked in their cells for 23 hours a day. Prisons have local targets for time out of cell and purposeful activity. These targets and plans for meeting them are set out in the Prison Service's Delivery Agreement with the area or operational manager, and performance is closely monitored.

Our priority is to reduce reoffending on release. While time out of cell may be important, we believe it is even more important to ensure that as much as possible of that time is spent in a demanding regime of purposeful activity. The Prison Service is therefore investing an additional £31 million in 2001–02, £50 million in 2002–03 and £71 million in 2003–04 following the Spending Review 2000 in work on basic skills, drugs, offending behaviour programmes and resettlement to support this.

Responsibility for the prisons in Scotland has been devolved to the Scottish Executive.