Stocken Prison (Hansard, 5 April 1989)

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to deal with underground electric cables at Stocken prison discovered to be waterlogged following the flooding of ducts; and what has been the effect of these difficulties on electricity supplies to married quarters.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
No such difficulty has been brought to our attention and there has been no effect on electricity supplies to married quarters at Stocken prison. The cables are well insulated, but any problems caused by flooding of ducts would be dealt with the prison's works department.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what work is currently in progress at Stocken prison to replace defective heating pipes; what is the age of the pipes in question; and what will be the cost of this work.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
A survey of the heating system is under way. To date, defective heating pipes have been 217W found in one wing and in the central administration block. Twenty metres of pipe, which was five years old, has been replaced at a cost of £600.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cells in Stocken prison are experiencing unpleasant smells linked with the plumbing system; and what action is being taken to rectify these problems.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
No complaints have been received about unpleasant smells from the plumbing system.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the closure of a cell in A wing at Stocken prison because of building problems, action is being taken to undertake the necessary structural repairs; and what liability exists for paying for this work under the contract conditions.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The action to take following the closure of a cell in E wing, not A wing, at Stocken prison because of building problems is under consideration by the Home Office directorate of works. Liability, under the contract conditions, for paying for the work which will be required, has yet to be established.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken since the ministerial letter from the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) dated 5 September 1988 to obtain the advice of an architect regarding the sloping ceilings in the quarters at Stocken prison; and when further action will be taken to implement the advice.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Following a vist by a Home Office architect, it has been confirmed that the provision of suspended ceilings would improve the heating of these quarters. A pilot study will be undertaken shortly to see whether this would provide an acceptable solution.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the action which has been taken since the ministerial letter from the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) of 5 September 1988, to eliminate the nuisance from dust in the married quarters at Stocken prison; and whether the measures have been successful.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Insulation materials have been examined but do not appear to have caused the problem of dust in the married quarters at Stocken prison, which has now been referred to the local environmental health department. Its report is expected shortly.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken, since the ministerial letter of 20 September 1988 by the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg), to improve the quality of central heating at the married quarters at Stocken prison; how many claims are outstanding for compensation for excessive heating bills; and when they will be settled.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The question of the quality of heating in the married quarters at Stocken prison has been referred to the building advisory branch of the Property Services Agency, whose report is awaited. One claim has been received for compensation for excessive heating bills, but liability has yet to be established.
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§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken since the visit to Stocken prison on 28 November 1988 by a representative of the building advisory board to deal with dampness in married quarters, following the ministerial letter of 8 December 1988 by the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg); how many claims for compensation for damage to clothing through dampness are outstanding; and when they will be settled.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The question of dampness in married quarters was referred to the building advisory branch of the Property Services Agency, whose report is awaited. Two claims for compensation for damage to clothing are outstanding, but the question of liability has yet to be established.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to improve the street lighting in the married quarters of prison officers at Stocken prison since the ministerial letter of the hon. Member for Grantham (Mr. Hogg) dated 5 September 1988.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
A contract has been let to improve the street lighting in the vicinity of the married quarters of prison officers at Stocken prison. Work started on 21 March.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of basic grade prison officers in post at Stocken prison; and what arrangements have been made to increase staffing to cover for officers on long-term sick leave.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
On 13 March 1989 there were 77 basic grade officers at HMP Stocken. Staffing levels at all prison establishments make allowance for about one fifth of staff to be absent at any one time on sick leave, annual leave or training courses.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether two extra prison officers will be allocated to Stocken prison during April in accordance with the reduction of hours proposals in the fresh start agreement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We have recruited sufficient staff nationally for the additional officers required under the fresh start framework agreement to be in post before the reduction of hours on 1 April. The uniformed complement at HMP Stocken has been increase by two with effect from 1 April. The prison already has more staff in post than the new complement figure.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new wing at Stocken prison will be completed; how many additional inmates will be accommodated in it; and how many additional prison officers will be allocated to the prison to cope with this expansion in inmate numbers.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The new house block being built at HMP Stocken will provide 96 single cells and is programmed for completion by the end of 1989. The present intention is to post an additional 19 officers and two night patrols to the prison as a result.

§ Mr. Latham
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place with 219W the Anglian water authority to ensure that the local sewage disposal system can cope effectively with the forthcoming expansion of Stocken prison; and whether he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
No discussions have taken place, but in correspondence in May 1988 Anglian Water confirmed that the additional sewage caused by the expansion to Stocken prison would not exceed the capacity of the pumping station.