§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will state the terms of the review of the contract between the directorate of industries and farms and Duraflex Ltd. dated 1 October 1981 for the production of ladders and the date the review commenced;
(2) which officials for his Department attended the meeting held on 25 August with representatives of the British Ladder Manufacturers Association; what discussions took place regarding the renewal of the contract between Prindus and Duraflex Ltd.; whether any indication was given as to whether this contract was to be renewed; if the contract is to be renewed; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will state the reasons for refusing to disclose information on the grounds of commercial confidentiality in relation to the quantity, type and price of articles made by individuals serving prison sentences.
§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he authorised under rule 28 of the Prison Rules 1964, as amended, each prisoner employed in the production of ladders in Her Majesty's prisons to be so employed for the private benefit of Duraflex Ltd.;
(2) when he authorised, under rule 28 of the Prison Rules 1964, as amended, the production of ladders by each of the inmates of Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will publish a copy of that authorisation.
§ Mr. HurdPrison rule 28 requires convicted prisoners to do useful work: further authorisation for the allocation of prisoners to specific tasks is not required.
§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make it his policy that prisons do not take work which competes with private sector companies; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what account is taken of the employment implications for private sector competitors of allowing Prindus to accept manufacturing contracts; and, in particular, if he has assessed the implications of all manufacturing in a particular sector being transferred to Her Majesty's prisons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdIt has been the policy of successive Governments that Prison Industries should manufacture goods for sale to private firms if sufficient work for prisoners in manufacturing goods for prison department's internal use or for sale to other Government Departments and the public sector is not available. No limits are set on Prison Industries' share of export markets or of United Kingdom markets which are dominated by imports, but the general policy is to limit to a low percentage penetration of the United Kingdom market in sectors where imports do not dominate.
§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of prisoners who, in the 12-month period ended on 30 September 1983, were employed for any period of their term of detention in the manufacture of ladders in Her Majesty's prisons.
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§ Mr. HurdThis information is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Nealeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Prindus contract for the manufacture of ladders was notified to the joint consultative committee on prison industries. what response was made by the committee; and if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of all meetings of the joint consultative committee at which the contract was discussed or referred to.
§ Mr. HurdThe joint Home Office/Confederation of British Industry/Trade Union Congress committee on prison industries took specific note of the problems with aluminium ladders at its meeting in December 1981. The committee has discussed the matter at subsequent meetings and has shown helpful understanding of the difficulties involved. The answer to the third part of the question is no. I am writing o my hon. Friend.