§ 7. Mr. ArcherTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has completed his consideration of the third report of the Home Affairs Committee on the state and use of prisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ArcherI am grateful to the Home Secretary for his rapid response to my question. For the benefit of those who have not yet read it, and in the interests of prisoners, staff and potential victims of future crime, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is pointless building more prisons without doing something about the conditions of existing ones? Bearing in mind that the Committee recommend the phasing out of Crown immunity, and bearing in mind also the earlier answer of the Minister of State today, is it not an appalling contribution to the rule of law that the Government should wish to evade responsibility for legal requirements?
§ Mr. HurdMy hon. Friend has already answered the point about Crown immunity. We are interested in making progress, not only to multiply prison places — I agree with the right hon. and learned Gentleman — but in particular to introduce modern sanitation where there is none today. We are pressing ahead with that and we have had substantial sums of money from the Treasury for that purpose. It is not a whit advanced by removing Crown immunity or by a minimum code of standards.
§ Mr. Charles WardleIs my right hon. Friend aware that prison officers' representatives and management at 1093 Northeye prison welcome the principle of Fresh Start, but say that it cannot properly be put into practice until the agreed staffing levels are met?
§ Mr. HurdWe are recruiting a substantial number of extra prison staff this year — 750 — to meet the Fresh Start reforms. Fresh Start involves each establishment working out new and more sensible ways of doing its job. That requires an adjustment and is bound to produce a certain amount of controversy. We are currently evaluating manpower requirements.