§ Mrs. Renèe Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about recent breaches of security at Albany prison; and what action he has taken to make improvements in the light of the particular circumstances.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe governor has completed his investigation and is now satisfied that there is no truth in the alleged claim to have smuggled contraband into Albany prison, reported as having been made to a national newspaper by a prisoner now returned to custody. The prisoner concerned has since denied having made this claim. The other claim by the prisoner to have contrived unauthorised meetings with his wife while working in the officers' mess does not involve the security of the prison itself, as the mess is outside the perimeter. The governor has, however, taken a number of steps to tighten the supervision of prisoners on this outside work party.