HC Deb 18 March 1971 vol 813 cc1622-5
6. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT full details of the prison building programme proposed by his Department.

Mr. Carlisle

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Cox

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. I accept that he genuinely wishes to see improvements made within the prison building programme and generally within the prison service. Generally, is he satisfied that he will be able to find sufficient prison officers to man any new establishments? Morale among prison officers is at a very low level. This is due basically to the very low basic rates of pay which officers earn. Could he therefore assure the Prison Officers Association that he will fully support the efforts which it is making to obtain substantial increases in the basic rates of pay?

Mr. Carlisle

I take note of what the hon. Gentleman says about the prison building programme, which is larger than ever before and contains 20 major schemes with which we are pushing on as quickly as possible. On the other point, I appreciate the need for more prison officers. As for their pay, they are classed as civil servants and there is negotiation through the Civil Service machinery over their pay.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Would not the Minister agree that it is obvious by now that by the end of 1974 the prison population will have increased by some 8,000 to 10,000 and that about a quarter of the men will be sleeping two or more to

1. Work started in the financial year 1970–71 on the following projects:—

Place Size and Type of Establishment
Ranby, Nottinghamshire … 350 Category C prison.
Glen Parva, Leicestershire … 840 Young offenders complex including allocation centre.
Norwich Prison … 100 Category C unit (first phase of a scheme to include also a remand centre).
Holloway Prison … Complete redevelopment.

2. Planning clearance in principle is held for the following new male establishments:—

Place Size and Type of Establishment Likely year of start
Lockwood, Oxon … 492 Closed prison 1971–72
Wrabness, Essex … 816 Category C prison 1971–72
Hollesley Bay Borstal, Suffolk … 185 Unit (next phase of scheme which will also include a new establishment for 300).
Werrington, Staffordshire … 100 Unit in detention centre 1971–72
Erlestoke, Wiltshire … 100 Unit in detention centre 1971–72
Low Newton, Durham … 80 Extension to remand centre 1971–72
Thorp Arch, West Riding … 75 Extension to remand centre 1971–72
Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire … 50 Extension to remand centre 1971–72
Ulnes Walton, Lancashire … 816 Category C prison 1972–73
Gartree, Leicestershire … 816 Category C prison 1972–73
Low Newton, Durham … 465 Closed prison 1972–73
Featherstone, Staffordshire … 484 Category C prison 1973–74
Eastchurch, Kent … 816 Category C prison 1973–74
Stocken Hall, Rutland … 600 Two closed young offender establishments 1973–74

a cell? In such circumstances, is it not vital to have a substantial prison building programme and to consider a reappraisal of the policy on non-custodial sentences?

Mr. Carlisle

I agree entirely. That is why we have a larger prison building programme than ever before. There are 20 major schemes in operation. We are bringing additional premises into the scheme. As we have announced on many occasions, we are also pressing ahead with consideration of alternatives to imprisonment.

Mr. Farr

Is the Minister aware that one of the causes of disillusionment in the prison service is the very long hours and compulsory overtime, often extending to 60 hours a week, which they have to work week in and week out? Can he do anything to reduce this very heavy load?

Mr. Carlisle

Yes, Sir, the Government are fully aware of the concern about long hours of overtime. It comes in the end to the ability to recruit more prison officers. At present they have to be divided among the existing establishments and I am afraid that overtime does, therefore, have to be served.

Following is the information:

3. Planning clearance has been sought, or informal discussions opened with the planning authority, in respect of a considerable number of further proposals, including those listed below. If planning clearance is obtained it is hoped that a start could be made on these projects in the period 1971–72 to 1975–76:—

Place Size and Type of Establishment
Denbury Camp, Devon … 484 Category C prison.
Acklington, Northumberland … 450 Category C prison.
300 Young offender establishment.
Griston, Norfolk … 484 Category C prison.
Bovingdon, Hertfordshire … 484 Category C prison.
Full Sutton, East Riding … 465 Closed prison and in addition a Category C prison.
Duxford, Cambridgeshire … 600 Young offender establishments.
Tudworth Hall, West Riding … 300 Young offender establishment.
West Malling, Kent … 450 Young offender establishment.
Deerbolt Camp, North Riding … 420 Young offender establishment.
Hewell Grange, Worcestershire … 300 Young offender establishment.
Feltham … 1,000 Young offender complex including allocation centre and redevelopment of psychiatric borstal.

4. A major part of the prison building programme will continue to be devoted to the improvement of facilities at existing institutions. There are a wide variety of such schemes including new living units, improved security, new workshops, upgrading of works services and extensive refurbishing. Total expenditure on such schemes in the current financial year is estimated at over £5 million. Examples of the schemes now in progress are:—

Kingston (Portsmouth) Prison … Reconstruction.
Reading Prison … Reconstruction.
Albany Prison … Improvement of security.
Chelmsford Prison … Improvement of security.
Parkhurst Prison … Improved association and dining facilities, etc.
The Verne Prison … New living accommodation.
Hollesley Bay Borstal … New living accommodation.
Shepton Mallet Prison … New workshop.

5. Expenditure on the erection or purchase of quarters for staff of existing establishments is about £2 million a year.