§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prison labour is employed (a) in the domestic services and (b) by the farms and garden group of the Directorate of Industries and Farms.
§ Mr. MayhewOf the total inmate population on 30 June 1980, when the annual census was last taken, 22 per cent. were employed on domestic services and 7 per cent. on farms and gardens.
19W
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average working week of a prisoner under normal circumstances; and what was the average working week of a prisoner during the recent industrial action by the Prison Officers' Association.
§ Mr. MayhewWorkshops were open for an average of 22½ hours a week immediately before the industrial action; the average had fallen in December to 6½ hours a week. Hours of work on farms and gardens and other activities in December were greater than those in workshops, but no precise figures are readily available.
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average earnings of (a) prisoners doing non-industrial work on a flat rate, (b) prisoners doing industrial work on piece rate and (c) prisoners working under the special incentive pay scheme; to how many prisoners the scheme applies; in which prisons it is available; and which industries are eligible for incentive wages.
§ Mr. Mayhew(a) 141p per week; (b) 183p per week; and (c) 269p per week. Some 2,250 prisoners are being paid under the higher incentive scheme in workshops at the following establishments:
- Albany
- Appleton Thorn
- Cardiff
- Coldingley
- Gartree
- Haverigg
- Hull
- Kirkham
- Long Lartin
- Northallerton
- Preston
- Rudgate
- Standford Hill
- Sudbury
- Swansea
- Verne
The "higher incentive" scheme is gradually being replaced by the "modified piecework" scheme, irrespective of the nature of the industry, where the working hours and resources are adequate.