HC Deb 05 March 1980 vol 980 cc186-7W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are being prevented from attending evening classes at (a) Manchester and (b) Wakefield prisons because of action by prison officers.

Mr. Brittan

The average numbers are 60 and 45 each evening at Manchester and Wakefield respectively.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the staff at Leeds prison is opposed to the appointment of a women civilian instructor; and how many prisoners are being prevented from using the workshops as a result of the actions of the prison officers.

Mr. Brittan

The local branch of the Prison Officers' Association has objected to this appointment on grounds of decency, based on section 7(2)(b) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. Efforts to persuade the branch that its objections are not well founded have so far failed. The branch is understood to be seeking its own legal advice and is refusing to man the workshop. This action has reduced the number of places for inmate employment by about 60.