HC Deb 30 January 1995 vol 253 cc505-6W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what salary has been or will be paid to the person or persons who will advise his Department on United States prison security; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 30 January 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the salary of prison security advisors from the United States. No decisions have been taken on the appointment or remuneration of a prison security advisor from the United States. A former warden of a maximum security prison in the United States has been invited to discuss the contribution that he might make to the Prison Service.

Ms Hodge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons have had their locks changed because of key compromises in the last three years; and what was the average cost for each such prison.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Ms Margaret Hodge, dated 30 January 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisons where locks have been changed because of key compromises in the last three years. Since January 1992 there have been 28 key compromises resulting in a change of locks. This includes the recent compromise at Parkhurst prison. The cost of replacing the locks varies according to the size of the prison and the class of locks. Typical costs are in the range of between £40,000 and £64,000.