§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department plans to sell its four remaining properties in Woodlands crescent, High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire; and for how long and why they have been empty.
§ Mr. John PattenThere are at present five empty prison staff quarters in Woodlands crescent, High Legh, Knutsford, Cheshire, two of which are surplus to operational requirements. One of the two properties has been sold, subject to contract, and the other is about to be placed on the market. These surplus properties have remained empty since 1982 but had been retained in the expectation that they would be required for use by staff at50W Her Majesty's Youth Custody Centre, Thorn Cross. Of the remaining three properties, which have been empty since May this year, one has been allocated and the other two await allocation to prison staff.