§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Prison Service is directly liable for debts occurring in (i) staff messes and (ii) staff clubs in prison service establishments; and if he will make a statement. [61907]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe Prison Service is currently liable for debts incurred by staff messes in Prison Service establishments.
253WStaff clubs are, according to current model rules, independent entities separate from Prison Service establishments. They are formed by staff and the managing committee should be responsible for any debts that arise. In their day-to-day operation with creditors, however, clubs have, on occasions, failed to make it clear that they are a separate legal entity from the core Prison Service. Consequently, when problems have occurred, the Prison Service has not always been able to distance itself from liability in the minds of creditors. The worst cases have resulted in settlement of debts from public funds. The Prisons Board has approved a corrective course of action which, following implementation, will ensure public funds are not misused to clear mess and club debts, fines and penalties.
§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) staff messes and (b) staff clubs in prison service establishments have closed in each of the last five years. [61905]
§ Mr. George HowarthFrom the information currently available, the following number of staff messes and clubs in Prison Service establishments have closed during the last three years:
- 1996: One club
- 1997: Five clubs and one mess
- 1998: One club and one mess.