§ Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the industrial action by prison officers in Walton prison, Liverpool; and what steps are being taken to resolve the dispute.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesIn 1978 officers at a number of prisons, including Liverpool prison, received retrospective payments in respect of a claim for paid breakfast breaks. In July 1978 the Liverpool officers submitted a further claim for paid breakfast breaks, with retrospective effect, for certain officers. The Home Office was unable to accept that this claim was justified and earlier this year the officers took industrial action which resulted in the cancellation of prisoners' family visits, work, association and even exercise, and their confinement to their cells for virtually 24 hours a day.
The terms of reference of the May committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services cover the question of paid meal breaks, including outstanding retrospective claims. The committee is now considering a number of such claims submitted by the national executive committee of the Prison Officers' Association, including a claim for further paid breakfast breaks which embodies the principle underlying the Liverpool claim. The members of the committee of inquiry have visited Liverpool prison and heard the points which the staff there wished to make about the claim. The report of the committee is now expected in the summer.
609WNevertheless, the Liverpool staff resumed industrial action on 12 March in order to secure the immediate payment of their claim. This began with the reimposition of a restricted regime for the prisoners which has caused mounting unrest in the prison and can only result in a major breakdown if it continues. The branch committee has now told the governor that it will also refuse to receive any further prisoners from court and will continue to do so until the population has fallen by 600 prisoners—who would have to be accommodated elsewhere in the hard-pressed prison system; that it will close the prison laundry; and that in the event of a disturbance it will reserve the right to withdraw from inside the prison. It also made clear that it might take further action if the claim was not now met. The governor's declaration of a state of alert yesterday evening has not been accompanied by an end of the industrial action.
A clear assurance has been given by the Prison Officers' Association at national level that it accepts that it is now necessary to await the May committee's report before all the outstanding claims for paid meal breaks can be resolved, that in the meantime the status quo should be maintained in relation to payment for breakfast breaks, and that it regrets this unofficial action by its Liverpool branch.
Whatever the feelings of the Liverpool officers, it is a matter of considerable regret that they should be prepared to inflict a harsh and restrictive regime on the prisoners in their care which not only puts the security of the prison at risk but also represents a threat to the stability of the prison system generally. They should now resume normal duty and await the report of the inquiry.