asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities for recreation are available at the Thorp Arch remand centre.

Thorp Arch has a sports field with two soccer pitches, a sports hall, including a side-area with weight-training equipment, a television and video room, a room equipped for indoor association and games, and a library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whom he consulted before making his decision to convert the Thorp Arch remand centre into a category C prison.

The change of role at Thorp Arch is part of a package designed to adjust the use of prison department accommodation so as to reduce extreme overcrowding at Leeds prison. My right hon. and learned Friend did not consult outside the Home Office on the specific adjustment that he has announced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of young persons who can be held at Thorp Arch remand centre at present; and what is the maximum number of adult category C prisoners who could be held in the present accommodation.

Thorp Arch has a certified normal accommodation of 164, including 17 places in the hospital. As a training prison, its certified normal accommodation will fall to 147 because hospital places are not included in the certified normal accommodation of training prisons. No more than 234 prisoners have in practice been held there although the establishment's theoretical operating capacity is higher than that. The precise number of adult prisoners to be held in the establishment has yet to be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many net places in the prison system will be lost as a consequence of his announced coversion of Thorp Arch remand centre into a category C prison.

The change of use of Thorp Arch is part of a package designed to ease the pressure on Leeds prison and which includes the conversion of Hull into a local prison. The net effect of these changes will be an increase of over 150 in the operating capacity of the prison system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes to the present staffing levels at the Thorp Arch remand centre will follow its conversion to a category C prison.

Thorp Arch will require fewer staff than at present because it will no longer be necessary to convey untried prisoners from Thorp Arch to the courts. Future staffing levels are still being assessed.