§ Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of prison officers who have been transferred from London prisons to other prisons outside London who are still in receipt of London weighting under the mark-time proposals of the fresh start arrangements; how many are currently serving in Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell; and what is the total cost to public funds on an annual basis of this arrangement;
(2) what is the number of prison officers who have been transferred from London prisons to other prisons outside London who are not still receiving London weighting under the mark-time proposals because their previous prison in London had not accepted fresh start; how many are currently serving in Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell; and what would be the total cost to public funds of extending the London weighting to those currently denied it.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggTo provide the information in the form requested would require disproportionate cost because of the large number of variable factors in individual cases and the calculations involved in mark-time pay. Between July 1987 and November 1988, 187 prison officers were transferred from London prisons to other prisons outside London and retained London weighting on a mark-time basis. Of these four are serving at Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell.
In the same period, 145 prison officers were transferred from London prisons to prisons outside London and did not receive London weighting under the mark-time rules because the London prison from which they were transferred had not moved to fresh start pay. Of these four are in post at Her Majesty's prison, Ashwell.