§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
How prison quarters at Wayland Prison, with an historic cost of £42,000 in 1984, have been given a valuation of £37,500 in 1987; and whether they consider the outcome of this long-running procedure to be fair on the prison officers concerned.
Earl FerrersAs my honourable friend said in another place on 5th May in answer to a Question from the honourable Member for South West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard), prison quarters at Wayland Prison were built at the same time as the prison, which was completed in 1984. Under the conditions of the department's discount sales scheme, when quarters are less than eight years old, it is necessary to take their historic cost into account when assessing their selling price. In such cases, where the historic cost exceeds the district valuer's valuation, which reflects the market value of the property, it is the practice to set the price at the district valuer's valuation. The position at Wayland, and generally, is under review.