§ 4. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about new design principles to be embodied in the prison building programme announced in the White Paper, People in Prison.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe main aims will be to provide a full range of specialised facilities in a modern setting; to plan for a degree of freedom of movement within a secure environment; to standardise design wherever possible and to ensure value for money by firm control of costs and standards.
§ Mrs. ShortI am obliged to my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that, if tension within prisons is to be reduced, it is essential to build up a good relationship between prison officers and prisoners and that our old-fashioned prisons are not built to serve this purpose? Will he further agree that if prison officers are to be mere turnkeys, spending a large amount of the working day locking and unlocking doors, it is essential to introduce modern electronic devices to reduce this? Will he further agree—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I know the hon. Lady's interest in this matter, but questions must be reasonably brief.
§ Mrs. ShortWould my hon. Friend consider the removal of the disgusting slopping; out processes in our prisons?
§ Mr. ReesThe days of prison officers being just turnkeys are long past. Many of these points of changing atmospheres in our prisons are being taken into account and will be taken into account even more as new prisons are built.
§ Mr. FarrWill those principles be implemented in the second new prison, which is to be constructed at Gartree in Leicestershire? If so, will the hon. Gentleman undertake to keep in close touch with the local authorities?