§ Sir Roger MoateTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the proposal to construct a six-hole golf course at Swaleside prison on the Isle of Sheppey; what costs were incurred before its cancellation; what information officials in his Department or in the Prison Service had about the proposal; and what guidelines are issued to prison governors to control expenditure on leisure facilities of this nature.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility 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 Sir Roger Moate, dated 17 March 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the proposal to construct a six hole golf course at Swaleside Prison on the Isle of Sheppey; what costs were incurred before its cancellation; what information officials in his Department or in the Prison Service had about the proposal; and what guidelines are issued to prison governors to control expenditure on leisure facilities of this nature.The governor of Swaleside prison obtained agreement from the Kent area manager to enhance sports facilities available to prisoners at Swaleside, including the provision of three golf greens (each of two holes). Officials in the Prison Service Enterprise and Activity Services were asked to provide technical advice on construction and costings.When I learned of the proposal I took the view that it was inappropriate and I instructed that the project be cancelled.
764W
LEA maintained primary schools Average class size September 1987 September 1988 September 1989 September 1990 January 1994 Clwyd 25.5 25.8 25.7 24.9 26.2 Dyfed 21.4 21.8 21.0 20.7 21.7 Gwent 25.7 26.4 26.9 27.1 27.4 Gwynedd 21.1 21.6 22.1 21.8 22.7 Mid Glamorgan 26.0 26.2 26.2 26.8 27.0 Powys 20.2 20.3 20.6 21.1 22.2 South Glamorgan 27.0 26.7 26.4 26.0 27.5 West Glamorgan 24.2 24.8 25.1 25.3 25.7 Wales 24.5 24.8 24.8 24.8 25.6
Current indications are that liabilities of less than £17,000 exclusive of VAT have been incurred and it is expected that much of this cost will be recoverable.Expenditure on leisure facilities is subject to the normal budgetary controls, project approval requirements and tendering rules. In addition, governors are required to ensure that any expenditure is appropriate to a prison and provides good value for money.