§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison officers' houses are now standing empty at Parkhurst, Albany and Camp Hill;
(2) whether, in view of the need for rented accommodation on the Isle of Wight, he will lease to the Medina borough council all prison officers' houses which are unlikely to be required for occupation within the foreseeable future.
§ Mr. BrittanThere are 66 empty unallocated houses not required for occupation in the immediate future. Of these, 11 will have to be demolished and 36 are for sale in the hands of local estate agents. The future of the remaining 19 is the subject of current consultation with 725W the staff associations concerned. My noble Friend has written to the hon Member explaining why it is not possible to make any of these houses available on lease.