HC Deb 21 May 1969 vol 784 c99W
Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans now for the use of Moor Court Prison.

Mr. Callaghan

I announced on 16th December, 1968, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short) that I was arranging for Moor Court to be closed as a female establishment. On 18th April, however, Hill Hall was burnt down, fortunately without loss of life. This reduced by 56 the places available for women prisoners suitable for open conditions, and I have therefore decided temporarily to reopen Moor Court as an open prison for women, pending a decision about the long term arrangements for open prison facilities for women in the South.