§ Mrs. René e Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to separate the prison department from the Home Office; what this separation will entail in terms of independence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitelawI announced in my statement to the House on 30 April that the prison department would, within the Home Office, be given wide delegated authority for the management of its staff and the control of its finance. These arrangements came into effect on 1 July.