HC Deb 14 April 1976 vol 909 cc616-7W
Mr. Eldon Griffiths

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of ex-Royal Air Force houses that so far have been converted for the housing of prison officers at High Point Prison, Stradishall. Suffolk; what so far has been the total cost and the average cost per house converted; what is his estimate of the average cost per house still to be converted; and how this compares with the cost of purchasing or building new accommodation of similar character for the prison staff.

Dr. Summerskill

Ninety-eight houses were taken over from the Ministry of Defence of which 88 are undergoing conversion by contractors to form 78 junior staff quarters and 10 are being converted to senior officers' quarters by direct labour.

Thirty-two quarters have now been completed at a cost of about £325,300, an average £10,150 per house. The average cost of the conversions still to take place is estimated at £11,050. The cost includes services, improvements to roads and an alarm system.

For operational reasons some staff had to be housed near the prison. Suitable houses for purchase were not available and comparative costings before work began showed that demolition of the existing houses and building new accommodation would not show a saving.