Prisoners (Cells)

Fiona Mactaggart
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time per day which prisoners spent in their cells in (a) 1995–96,(b) 1996–97 and (c) each month since April 1997. [11511]

Ms Quin
The Prison Service monitors the time that is available for prisoners to spend out of their cell, based on normal prison routine, rather than the actual time that prisoners spend in their cell.The average time available for prisoners to spend out of their cell for 1995–96,1996–97 and each month since April 1997 was:

1995–96: 11.4 hours1996–97: 11.2 hoursApril 1997: 11.0 hoursMay 1997: 11.1 hoursJune 1997: 11.0 hours

The data for the current financial year are subject to final validation.

Mr. Beith
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners were held in their cells for more than (a) 10, (b) 12 hours per day in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) each month since April 1997. [11825]

Ms Quin
The Prison Service monitors the time that is available for prisoners to spend out of their cell, based on normal prison routine, rather than the actual time that prisoners spend in their cell.The table details the average proportion of prisoners held in prisons where the average time available for prisoners to spend out of their cell was

(a) more than 10 hours and (b) more than 12 hours.

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|More than ten hours   |
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|More than twelve hours|
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The data for the current financial year are subject to final validation.

Mr. McWalter
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average daily time spent out of cells by prisoners in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) each month since April 1997. [11952]

Ms Quin
The Prison Service monitors the time that is available for prisoners to spend out of their cell, based on normal prison routines, rather than the actual time that prisoners spend out of their cell.

The average time available for prisoners to spend out of their cell for 1995–96,1996–97and each month since April 1997was:
 1995–96: 11.4hours1996–97: 11.2hoursApril 1997:11.0hoursMay 1997:11.1hoursJune 1997:11.0hours

The data for the current financial year are subject to final validation

Mr. McWalter
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners were out of their cells for (a) more than 10 hours per day and (b) more than 12 hours per day in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97. [11951]

Ms Quin
I will write to my hon. Friend.

Sir Peter Lloyd
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently accommodated two to a cell designed for one person. [12222]

Ms Quin
I will write to the right hon. Member.