§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of repairing the damage recently done to the roof of the main building at Parkhurst prison; what steps he is taking to prevent a recurrence of this incident; and whether he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Merlyn ReesAt about 9 p.m. on 22 March five prisoners at Parkhurst prison broke into the roof space from within D hall, and from there broke through on to the roof. They remained there, causing extensive damage to skylights, slates and coping stones, until they came down voluntarily at 11.25 a.m. on 24 March. It is proivsionally estimated that the cost of repairing the roof will be in the order of £50,000. We are considering as a matter of urgency suitable measures to impede prisoners gaining access to the Parkhurst roofs in this way.