§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Rye Hill; what the prisoner population is at HMP Rye Hill; and what plans there are to deal with overcrowding at HMP Rye Hill. [40063]
§ Beverley HughesThe number of certificated staff at Rye Hill prison is 164 and that of support staff including sub-contractors is 78. As at 28 February 2002 the prison held 618 prisoners. The certified normal accommodation is 600. The contractually approved operational capacity is 660.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Dovegate; what the prisoner population is; when HMP Dovegate is expected to reach full capacity; what plans there are to deal with overcrowding; what research is being commissioned by the contractor into the outcomes at HMP Dovegate; which organisation is carrying out the research; and if he will make a statement. [40062]
§ Beverley HughesThe staffing levels at Dovegate prison are shown in the table.
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Main prison Therapeutic community Managerial 91 25 Prisoner custody officer 150 61 Support 83 9 Total 324 95 The main prison's population was 594 on 28 February 2002. The certified normal capacity is 600. Discussions on increasing this capacity within the contractual limits for overcrowding are under way. There are currently 81 participants in the therapeutic community and it is planned to reach the operational capacity of 200 by July 2002.
The contractor is in the process of letting a six-year research contract to Surrey university during which three topics in respect of the therapeutic community will be studied: the mechanism of individual change in relation to the therapeutic process, the behaviour of residents when they return to the prison system and the reconviction and re-offending rates of residents when they are released into the general community.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Blakenhurst; how staffing levels have changed since the Prison Service assumed management of the prison; what changes to the regime have occurred since the Prison Service assumed management of the prison; and if he will make a statement. [40065]
§ Beverley HughesThe current staffing levels at Blakenhurst prison are 14 managers, 208 operational grades, 64 other directly employed staff and 24 catering and educational staff, a total of 310. This is comparable to the planned complement of approximately 322 employees (including contracted out personnel) of the former contractor, United Kingdom Detention Services (UKDS) before the change in management.
Major changes in regime under Prison Service management include: a revision of the prison's daily visits timetable and the introduction of a booked visits scheme; the introduction of a Personal Officer Scheme; the revision of the prison's incentives and earned privileges scheme and of the anti-bullying strategy; the refocusing of education on the acquisition of basic skills and employment skills; the introduction of a new pre-release course addressing resettlement issues; an increase in domestic work for prisoners; the redevelopment of prison workshops with the opening in March of two new workshops providing work for 60 prisoners; and the introduction of an industrial cleaning course for 15 prisoners.
§ Mr. StinchcombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the staffing levels were for each category of staff at HMP Doncaster immediately prior to the commencement of the latest contract with Premier Custodial Group Ltd; what the staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Doncaster; and what the prisoner population is at HMP Doncaster. [40064]
§ Beverley HughesThe number of staff at Doncaster prison immediately before, and after, the new contract is shown in the table.
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Old contract New contract Managerial 58 67 Prisoner custody officer 320 273 Support 256 279 Total 634 619 The population at Doncaster as at 1 March 2002 was 1,003.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the present staffing levels are for each category of staff at HMP Wandsworth; and what vacancies exist in each category. [40513]
§ Beverley HughesThe figures are given in the table.
Grade category Staff in post on 28 February 2002 Vacancies on 28 February 2002 Accountant 1 — Administrative 59 6 Chaplaincy 3.5 1 Healthcare 33.5 3.5 Industrial 25.5 — Non industrial 28 6 Operational support grade 103 — Psychology 8 1 Officer grades 391.5 31.5 Governor grades 12 — Grand Total 666 49