Parkhurst Prison (Hansard, 2 February 1995)

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility 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 Mr. Doug Hoyle, dated 2 February 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking who authorised the removal of the Governor from his duties and prison staff from Her Majesty's Prison, Parkhurst. The decision that the Governor of Parkhurst should be moved from his duties at Parkhurst, for operational reasons, was taken by me and the Directors of Custody, Security and Personnel. I should make it clear that he was neither sacked nor suspended. He will be assisting the further inquiries which have now to take place into the escapes and will then take up a non-operational post in Prison Service Headquarters. Authorisation for the sending of any other staff closely involved in the events of 3 January on detached duty pending the further investigations (including the disciplinary investigation) and in their own interests was given in principle by me in conjunction with the Directors of Personnel and Custody. I want to make it quite clear that these moves are entirely without prejudice to the disciplinary investigation, which will take place as soon as Sir John Learmont's assessment of security has been completed, or to any disciplinary proceedings which may follow the disciplinary investigation.