HC Deb 12 June 1991 vol 192 cc540-1W
Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will identify the reasons for the delay between the carrying out of the inspection of Ashwell prison in September 1990, and the delivery of the report to him until December 1990, and then published with his statement on June 6; and what action he intends to take to speed up this process in future.

Mrs. Rumbold

Arrangements for preparing reports on his inspections of prison establishments are a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons. Arrangements for advising Ministers on the recommendations in each report are the responsibility of the prison service. The chief inspector presented his report on Her Majesty's prison Ashwell to my right hon. Friend on 21 December 1990. The inspectorate was notified of our response to the report on 3 May 1991 so that it could arrange for printing and distribution. In between those dates officials of the prison service were considering the main recommendations of the report and its wider implications.

We have already issued instructions to ensure that when a report from the chief inspector is submitted it is dealt with expeditiously by the prison service. My right hon. Friend also regularly reviews with the chief inspector the work of his office.

Mr. Latham

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his intentions regarding recommendation 5.4 of Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons regarding Ashwell prison; and whether he will list the recommendations addressed to the governor which have already been implemented or will shortly be so.

Mrs. Rumbold

The complement of the physical education department at Ashwell prison has been reviewed and an additional post will be considered with other bids when trained staff become available.

The inspector's recommendations 5.7, 5.8, 5.11 and 5.19 to the governor have been implemented. Recommendation 5.16 was not accepted since current meal times at Ashwell are considered to be reasonable and later times would not make the best use of staff. Recommendation 5.13 has been accepted by the governor: reallocation of medical, psychiatric and psychological resources is being considered at headquarters. The governor expects to complete his review of the remaining seven recommendations shortly.