§ 12. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the use of selected prisoners on work on projects to beautify areas in the neighbourhood of prisons which are unlikely to be commissioned if the cost had to be met in the ordinary way.
§ Mr. CarlisleWhere practicable, and subject to safeguards for local interests, labour is supplied to charitable or voluntary organisations undertaking such work.
§ Mr. TilneyIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that there are many jobs which benefit the community, but which would never be done in the ordinary way by private enterprise or public authority, such as the clearance of towpaths or, in his own part of the country, the restoration of the breach in the Bridgwater Canal not by pipe but for navigation and fishing?
§ Mr. CarlisleI am fully aware of what my hon. Friend says. He will appreciate that it raises a difficult principle when it is other than of a voluntary or charitable nature as to whether the prison department ought to provide work free of charge for what may be private interests. It is a matter we are looking at generally.
§ Mr. HefferWhile I have a great deal of sympathy for the point made by the hon. Gentleman, may I ask the Minister to consult the trade union movement about any work of this kind? Further, would he have a word with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Employment to ensure that in areas where there is a prison, such as my own area of Merseyside, ordinary workers now unemployed are set to work before dealing with this matter?
§ Mr. CarlisleI can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are always conscious of the effect of any work done by prisoners upon the availability of work for those outside prisons. I am happy to say that our relationship on this matter both with management and with unions is remarkably good.