§ Mr. Spencerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made any changes in the arrangements for the management of prison industries and farms.
§ Mr. BrittanYes. I have made a number of significant changes in the control, management and policies of prison service industries and farms. The emphasis in these changes, some of which are already under way, is on integrating prison industries more fully with the prison service, of which they are part, and on improving their financial and managerial performance.
New machinery for central management will consist of a board under the chairmanship of the director of regimes 984W and services and will include representatives of the operational arm of the service—prison governors, as well as those responsible at headquarters for the central direction of industrial and farming activity. Two external board members will also be appointed. Day-to-day responsibility will rest with the director of what, in future, will be called "Prison Service Industries and Farms". The trade name "Prindus" will no longer be used.
Future strategy and overall financial targets will be determined in a rolling four-year plan. This will take into account such issues as the outcome of marketing reviews, developments on prison regimes and information on the projected size and distribution of the prison population. A fresh assessment of the market for prison-made goods is concentrating on the products made for use by the prison service and other public sector markets. Computerisation in key areas will help to strengthen financial controls.
Prison industries represent one way in which the prisoner can help to offset the cost of his imprisonment and at the same time benefit from work experience. The prison service has an obligation to ensure it makes the best use of all its resources. These changes will help to further that aim.