§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what savings would be made by using prisoners at HMP North Sea camp to drive lorries to deliver vegetables to other prisoners:
(2) what plans there are to use convicted inmates as lorry drivers at HMP North Sea camp; what assessment has been made of the security implications; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what discussions have taken place with the Prison Officers Association and the Prison Governors Association about the use of prisoners in jobs previously held by paid staff.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 10 June 1993.
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about North Sea Camp.The Governor of North Sea Camp open prison is examining a proposal to use a suitably qualified prisoner to make vegetable deliveries to neighbouring prisons. This will release a prison auxiliary driver to take more prisoners to work placements in local communities, thus meeting an increased demand for such opportunities.There would be no financial savings since the auxiliary driver will be employed on other duties.North Sea Camp holds Category D prisoners who are judged to be able to be trusted not to abscond or commit further offences, and to present little risk to the public.The governor has consulted widely on the question of the use of prisoners as drivers. Members of the local Branch of the Prison Officers Association have not objected to the scheme. Likewise members of the Prison Governors Association at North Sea Camp have no objection. The governor is continuing to consult governors of neighbouring prisons to which deliveries would be made before he reaches a final decision.I am not aware of any other schemes which will use prisoners to undertake work previously done by paid staff.