HC Deb 19 July 1990 vol 176 c669W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra financial allowance and additional days' leave were given to prison officers from prisons in England and Wales who were sent to Strangeways prison during the recent riot at that prison; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

Prison officers sent to Her Majesty's prison Manchester during the recent emergency received an ex-gratia payment of £8 per hour in respect of additional hours worked. All staff involved in control and restraint deployment received five days' special leave with pay. Governors were asked also to grant a discretionary five days' special leave to any other staff who suffered particular stress at Manchester.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who will be charged the costs of supplying prison officers from prisons in England and Wales for duty at Strangeways prison during the recent riot at that prison; what was the total cost; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The costs of supplying prison officers for duty at Her Majesty's prison Manchester during the recent riot there are borne on the prisons vote—(class XI, 2).

The salaries of prison officers sent to Manchester are already paid by the prison service. The only additional salary costs are payments for additional hours worked in connection with the disturbance. These costs, together with transport and subsistence expenses, amounted to £545,094.