§ Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to make good the shortage of work for an outside contractor usually done by prisoners at Chelmsford; if he will list the kinds of work now done in this prison; and how many of the prisoners are sewing mailbags.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganFresh contracts are being negotiated. The prisoners are employed in sheet metal work, engineering, metal recovery, assembling components, mailbag-sewing, farming, building and the domestic services of the prison. Thirty-eight are sewing mailbags.
§ Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there has been a delay in the issue of up-to-date information cards to prisoners at Chelmsford; in which other prisons there have been similar delays; and how soon this administrative defect will be made good.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganBecause of an oversight, some of the information cards issued to prisoners at Chelmsford were not the latest available, but this has now been rectified. I am not aware of a similar oversight elsewhere. All information cards are now being revised and sets of up-to-date cards will be issued later this year.