§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in policy he intends to make to allow men and women serving custodial sentences to produce and market communally items produced within the prison or prison farm; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Rumbold[holding answer 25 April 1991]: We have no plans for any general changes. However, in the recent "Report of the Inquiry into Prison Disturbances 1990"—Cm 1456—it was proposed that there should be schemes to enable a prisoner to contribute to society by making goods for charitable causes. The prison service is currently discussing with representatives of the Koestler Award Trust plans which the trust has to set up a prison charity shops scheme. The trust has been invited to submit a thorough feasibility and cost-benefit analysis of its proposal.
548Waccess to night sanitation for all inmates. Work costing about £1 million is also due to start in 1991–92 on new facilities for education and to improve fire safety. A strategy for the further development of the prison is being prepared and £3 million has been allocated for work arising from this, starting in 1993–94.