§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the annual budget for prisons in England is designated for(a) education and(b) health care. [62287]
§ Hilary BennFigures are available for education expenditure in prisons in England and Wales only. In the financial year 2002–03, the sum of £70 million is planned to be spent on prisoner education, which is 3.1 per cent. of the overall departmental expenditure limit for the Prison Service.
Information is not held centrally in a way that allows expenditure on health care to be readily identified. Research conducted for "The Future Organisation of Prison Health Care" (published 9 March 1999) estimated that establishments spent £85 million on prisoner health care in the financial year 1997–98.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial contribution he plans to make to the reconstruction of sewers and drains on the Isle of Wight prison estate to facilitate the(a) adoption of roads, drains and lighting, (b) implementation of planning permissions for new housing on the estate and (c) construction of new prison places which have been announced. [62963]
§ Hilary BennThe Prison Service has been seeking outline planning permission for residential development on 11 sites adjacent to former prison housing estates. Outline planning permission has been received on seven sites to date and are expected on a further two later this year. Two amended applications may be re-submitted in due course.
The future development schemes for the 11 sites include proposals to upgrade to adoptable standard a number of roads, street lights and drains leading to these 968W sites, either by the Prison Service to facilitate a sale and maximise sale receipts, or by future owners under planning agreements.
Consideration is also being given to upgrading other roads, storm water drainage and street lighting not directly accessing future development sites. It is hoped this will he to a standard suitable for maintenance adoption by the local highways authority. There are a number of legal and technical issues to resolve before formal proposals are made. Progress is also dependent on obtaining further outline planning consents, with sustainable planning conditions and the relative strength of the property market during a future land sales programme. To date no decision has been taken as to the extent of the Prison Service's contribution.
It is not anticipated that it will be necessary to upgrade roads and drains within the estates as a result of the construction of the additional accommodation unit at Albany prison for which the Prison Service secured planning clearance in April 2002. In the event that it would be necessary to do so, this will be done in consultation with the Isle of Wight council. Should the Prison Service decide to proceed with a development on the site to the west of Parkhurst prison (for which it secured planning clearance for a 416-place prison in 1997), it would ensure that it was properly accessed and supplied with mains services.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of cells in segregation units in each category B prison have forced ventilation; and if he will make a statement. [62376]
§ Hilary BennThe Prison Service does not collect this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All segregation cells in secure penal establishments are built to a category B type standard. After 1980 the standard provision for all segregation cells is mechanically ventilated or natural ventilation through grilles. Before 1980 segregation cells will have natural ventilation, unless they have since been refurbished with fixed windows and in these cases the provision will be mechanically ventilated systems or natural ventilation through grilles. Certain "short term holding" cells in segregation units within the prison estate have "forced (mechanical)" ventilation when this is required.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sessions of purposeful activity were(a) delivered and (b) lost (i) per prisoner and (ii) in total in each category B prison in the most recent year for which information is available. [62381]
§ Hilary BennThe Prison Service does not collect centrally, the number of purposeful activity sessions delivered or lost in prisons. Average weekly purposeful activity hours achieved in each category B prison and in total during 2001–02 are given in the table.
969W
Establishment Activity hours1 Albany 24.2 Blundeston 25.8 Dovegate 27.5 Garth 23.4 Gartree 30.5 Grendon 35.6 Kingston 24.3
Establishment Activity hours1 Lowdham Grange 27.2 Maidstone 21.0 Parkhurst 19.1 Rye Hill 29.4 Swaleside 24.3 Total in all prisons 23.4 1Average weekly purposeful activity hours 2001–02.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what way the EU Directive for shellfish waters is inhibiting the adoption of roads on the Isle of Wight prison estates. [62962]
§ Hilary BennThe Government are not aware that the European Union (EU) Directive on shellfish waters is directly inhibiting the possible adoption of existing roads and drains within the former prison housing estates.
There are currently seven development sites owned by the Prison Service, adjacent to these estates, with outline planning permission for residential developments. One of the standard planning conditions is to agree with the water company Southern Water proposals for the disposal and treatment of foul and storm water generated by future developments. Southern Water may be required to consider the relevance of the EU directive when negotiating with the Prison Service or future owners.
§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours, on average, non-segregated prisoners were confined to their cells in each category B prison in the last year for which information is available. [62383]
§ Hilary BennThe Prison Service does not collect centrally information to distinguish time out of cell for specific categories of prisoner. The average time out of cell on weekdays for all prisoners in each category B prison during 2001–02 is given in the table. Comparative figures are not available for privately managed prisons.
Establishment Time out1 Albany 9.3 Blundeston 10.1 Garth 10.0 Gartree 10.1 Grendon 15.4 Kingston 11.8 Lowdham Grange 12.4 Maidstone 10.4 Parkhurst 9.7 Swaleside 9.7 1Average weekday time out of cell 2001–02—all prisoners.