§ 4. Mr. Boydenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of installing the oil-fired boiler equipment in Durham Prison; and what are its annual running costs for oil.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeNew boilers were required in Durham Prison. These were supplied and installed complete with oilfired equipment at a cost of £18,257; ancillary work by contract, which included the supply and installation of fuel tanks, cost £17,835. The erection of a new boiler house and other work was carried out by prison labour at a 538 cost for materials of £9,854. Oil consumption is estimated to cost £12,400 annually.
§ Mr. BoydenCould not the Home Office have got a coal-fired installation at as reasonable a price? How does the hon. and learned Gentleman reconcile the attempts by the Government to bring employment to the North-East with the taking away of employment by not taking up coke or coal which is locally available?
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeI fully appreciate the sentiment behind the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question. My right hon. Friend undertakes, particularly in areas such as he mentions, that the importance of coal firing will be looked into. In this case, the area available within the prison wall was peculiarly small and did not allow sufficient space for the storage of coal and for the somewhat larger machinery and equipment that would be necessary.