§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present waiting time for the allocation of prison officers' housing for officers serving at London prisons.
§ Mr. HurdPrison service grades are no longer entitled to occupy official quarters as a condition of service and only in exceptional circumstances can such accommodation be provided. Allocation depends on a number of factors including availability and the compelling nature of the applicant's circumstances. Routine statistics are therefore not maintained but information from the five major establishments in London suggests that the waiting time can vary from three months to well over two years.
Month Cases awaiting resolution at the end of each month Cases resolved during each month Staff in post (part-time staff being each counted as one half) January 1988 76,000 3,652 310.5 February 1988 77,000 3,353 309.5 March 1988 78,000 3,180 301.5 April 1988 79,000 2,724 305.5 May 1988 80,000 2,699 304.5 June 1988 80,000 3,393 311.5 July 1988 80,000 2,970 313.5 August 1988 81,000 2,964 312.5 September 1988 80,000 2,813 319.5 October 1988 81,000 3,201 320.5
§ Mr. GroundTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog of cases awaiting resolution by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have increased the board's staff to 320 (including 107 at a new office in Glasgow) and we hope that this will enable the board to reduce the backlog by at least 2,500 cases during 1989–90.