§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates construction work at Her Majesty's prison Stocken on each of the four phases of prison officers' houses began; and what consideration was given by his Department to abandoning or curtailing the project, in view of the possible level of occupation.
§ Mr. MellorConstruction work on the prison officers' houses at Stocken prison commenced on 17 September 1984. During the construction period a phased handover was agreed in order to provide early completion for some of the houses. The original planned level of provision of quarters at Stocken was to have been some 160 houses; in 1981 this was reduced to 40 houses, following agreement that staff were no longer required to occupy official quarters. This was seen as the prudent minimum at the time, and was again confirmed as the best estimate of requirements during a review in 1983, a year before the contract was let.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date or dates his Department became under legal contract to start each of the phases of construction work for prison officers' houses at Her Majesty's prison Stocken.
§ Mr. MellorThe contract for the construction of the prison officers' houses at Stocken prison was the responsibility of the Property Services Agency, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that a single contract for the construction of all the houses was let on 8 August 1984.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the specific cost of (a) the six British Broadcasting Corporation micro-computers and (b) the two additional ones purchased for Her Majesty's prison Stocken; and why the 12 additional computers subsequently purchased were of a different type.
§ Mr. MellorThe cost of the first six BBC B micro-computers was £399 each and that of the two BBC Master-series micro-computers purchased subsequently was £499 each. Both figures exclude the cost of peripheral equipment.
BBC micro-computers, which have widespread educational application, were obtained for use in a number of areas of the education programme as a learning aid and to allow students to develop basic computing skills. Ferranti micro-computers were provided for the separate vocational training course in computer studies to enable students to learn commercial computing skills using the type of equipment employed in a modern office environment. Emphasis is placed on the commercial application of skills and students are encouraged to aim for an appropriate qualification.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will identify the specific date 66W or dates on which (a) the inmates' chairs, (b) the tutor's chair, (c) the tutor's desk, (d) the computer stands, (e) the filing cabinet or cabinets and (f) the carpet intended for the computer room at Her Majesty's prison Stocken were delivered to the prison; and whether the room is now operational;
(2) what was the purchase price of (a) the 13 inmates' chairs, (b) the tutor's chair, (c) the tutor's desk, (d) the computer stands, (e) the filing cabinet or cabinets and (f) the carpet intended for the computer room at Her Majesty's prison Stocken; and what instructions he has issued since regarding the need for competitive tendering and economic choice of supplies.
§ Mr. MellorThe information about the price and delivery dates of the items ordered from the commercial supplier is as follows:
Contract price (£) (excluding VAT) Date delivered to establishment 13 students' chairs 1,040 31 July 1986 13 work stations 5,083 Delivered in part lots completed by end November 1986 1 carpet 745 17 June 1986 1 tutor's chair 153 131 July 1986 1 tutor's desk 327 — 1 filing cabinet 245 — 1 cupboard 280 — 1Subsequently returned to the supplier. The orders for the tutor's chair, desk, filing cabinet and cupboard were subsequently cancelled, at no cost to public funds, and these items replaced with cheaper alternatives from the Crown Suppliers. It has been made clear to the staff concerned that they must always seek best value for money in such purchases and, save in exceptional circumstances, follow departmental purchasing procedures including competitive tendering in all appropriate cases.
Commissioning work in the computer studies room is almost complete and the vocational training course is expected to begin within the next two weeks.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers who applied for posting to Her Majesty's prison Stocken prior to its initial opening indicated to his postings section that they would not transfer unless provided with a quarter, in accordance with paragraph 5 of notice to staff 57/84; how many indicated they would prefer a quarter but did not insist upon it; and how many indicated they expected to make their own arrangements for housing.
§ Mr. MellorTwenty-one staff who applied for transfer to Her Majesty's prison Stocken stated that they would require a quarter. A further 273 applied for transfer irrespective of the availability of quarters. Applicants were not required to state whether they would prefer to occupy a quarter or make their own arrangements for housing.