Prisons and Borstal Institutions (Heating)

HC Deb 28 March 1963 vol 674 cc1531-2

40. Mr. Boyden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which prisons and Borstal institutions oil-fired heating systems have been installed during the last two years and in which others it is planned to install oil systems during the next two years.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Miss Mervyn Pike)

As the Answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Boyden

Presumably that means that it is a very long list. Could not the hon. Lady say why gas, electricity or coal could not be used in these prisons? Surely it is in the national interest to use these indigenous sources of fuel instead of using oil?

Miss Pike

It is a long list, but in all cases all alternative sources of fuel have been investigated, as the hon. Gentleman will see when he reads the list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the information:

In the following establishments oil-fired heating systems have been brought into operation since 1st April, 1961:

• ^*Ashford Remand Centre (Middlesex).
• ^*Bullwood Borstal (Essex).
• Cardiff Prison.
• Durham Prison.
• Exeter Prison.
• ^*Grendon Psychiatric Prison (Bucks).
• ^*Guy's Marsh Borstal (Dorset).
• ^*Haslar Detention Centre (Hants).
• Hewell Grange Borstal (Worcs).
• ^*Hindley Borstal (Lancs).
• Maidstone Prison.
• ^*Moor Court Detention Centre (Staffs).
• ^*New Hall Detention Centre (Yorks, W.R.).
• ^*Send Detention Centre (Surrey).
• ^*Swinfen Borstal (Staffs).

At the following establishments work on an oil-fired system is in progress, or is planned to start within the next two years:

• ^*Albany Prison (Isle of Wight).
• ^*Blundeston Prison (E. Suffolk).
• Dorchester Prison.
• Ford Prison (Sussex) (Extension).
• ^*Hewell Grange Remand Centre (Worcs).
• ^*Kirklevington Detention Centre (N. Riding)
• Leeds Prison.
• Parkhurst Prison.
• Pentonville Prison.
• Portland Borstal.
• ^*Pucklechurch Remand Centre (Gloucs).
• ^*Risley Remand Centre (Lancs).
• Swansea Prison.
• Wakefield Prison.
• ^*Wellingborough Borstal.
• Winchester Prison.
• Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

In all cases the most careful consideration was given to the use of solid fuel before oil was decided on.

^*New establishment.