§ 2. Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial expenditure he is proposing on the accommodation at Wandsworth Prison for bachelor prison officers.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Mark Carlisle)Two schemes to provide improved accommodation are under consideration, involving a toal cost of about £15,00.
§ Mr. CoxI welcome that reply, but I am sure that the hon. and learned Gentleman is aware of the two issues involved. There is, first, the urgent need to improve the deplorable conditions in which unmarried officers are now living at Wandsworth Prison. Secondly, there is the need to ensure that there is adequate finance for additional accommodation for the extra officers that it is hoped will be appointed to the prison in the very near future. Those are two very important matters to the officers at the prison.
§ Mr. CarlisleI can assure the hon. Gentleman that I am fully aware of the need for more bachelor accommodation for the prison staff. I recently visited the prison and that need was forcibly brought home to me by both the governor and the representatives of the Prison Officers Association.