§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long prisoners at (a) Manchester and (b) Wakefield have been prevented from attending evening classes because of action by prison officers; what action he has taken to resolve this problem; and what is the reason for the delay in doing this.
§ Mr. WhitelawPrisoners at Manchester and Wakefield were prevented by action by prison officers from attending most evening classes from 3 and 10 December respectively. The action terminated at Wakefield on 7 March 1980. It continues at Manchester.
My officers have been, and continue to be, in touch with the national executive committee of the Prison Officers' Association and I hope that the Manchester branch will accept its national officers' advice that action of this kind should cease.