§ 75. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose a prison camp was established at Draycott, Staffordshire; and how the prisoners there are employed.
§ Mr. EdeThis camp was opened in July, 1945, to house some 36 men from Stafford Prison. The purpose was to reclaim over 300 acres of farmland which had been devastated by the explosion of an underground bomb-store. On a recent visit to the site I was glad to see that this difficult and valuable piece of public work has been most effectively carried out by the prisoners. All land capable of reclamation is now in cultivation, and the afforestation of areas about the crater 1.nd elsewhere is proceeding.