HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 cc758-60W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to introduce 24-hour health care at HMP Wymott; [92027]

(2) what plans he has to build a prison hospital on the site of (a) HMP Garth and (b) HMP Wymott. [92023]

Hilary Benn

There are no plans to introduce full 24-hour health care at Wymott prison as there is already a 13-place in-patient facility with 24-hour nursing cover in the health care centre at Garth prison, which serves as a resource for other Prison Service establishments in the area, including Wymott prison.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was taken to place two prisoners in single cells at HMP Wymott. [92020]

Hilary Benn

The decision to ask training establishments to locate two prisoners in selected single cells was taken centrally, as a result of the overwhelming population pressures faced by the prisons estate. The practice commenced at Wymott on 26 June 2002. Each single cell utilised in this way has been risk assessed for the purpose, and all prisoners are also individually risk assessed to determine their suitability for location with another prisoner.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to build(a) extensions to and (b) a new prison at (i) HMP Garth and (ii) HMP Wymott. [92022]

Hilary Benn

On 27 March 2002, the Prison Service was granted an extension in time of a further five years to the planning clearances already granted for additional single houseblocks for 120 prisoners at both Garth and Wymott prisons.

Planning clearance has been applied for to increase the size of the proposed houseblock at Wymott to 180 places. The outcome of the application is expected on 21 January 2003. On 24 July 2002, planning clearance was granted for an 80 place modular temporary unit (MTU) at Wymott, which will be additional to the 180-place houseblock. Work is under way to construct the 80 place MTU and, subject to a successful planning application, work on the 180-place houseblock will begin in the near future.

There are no immediate plans to build the houseblock at Garth although the position will be regularly reviewed and there are currently no plans to build a complete new prison at either site.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the number of bed watches taking place at HMP Wymott; and what the average number was in other prisons at the most recent available date. [92024]

Hilary Benn

Since July 2002, there have been 1,000 bedwatches for 60 prisoners at Wymott, averaging around 40 per week. No figures are centrally collected on the frequency of bedwatches and information on the average number in other prisons is therefore not available.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were taken to hospital from HMP Wymott on average in each of the last five years. [92025]

Hilary Benn

During the last five years, an average of 470 prisoners have been taken to hospital each year from Wymott prison.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners died in HMP Wymott in each of the last five years. [92026]

Hilary Benn

A total of 14 prisoners have died at HMP Wymott in the last five years: two in 1998, three in 1999, five in 2000, one in 2001 and three in 2002.