HC Deb 03 July 1996 vol 280 c439W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison officers have been seconded during the last 12 months to the Wolds prison; from what prison establishment they came; and if Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons was informed of the seconded prison officers working at the Wolds prison when it visited the prison; [34971]

(2) how many times during the last 12 months prison officers were required to work a double shift at the Wolds prison; and what was the reason for the requirement; [35007]

(3) how many prison officers have been seconded during the last 12 months from the Wolds prison; to which prison establishments they went; and if Her Majesty's inspectorate of prisons was informed of the Wolds seconded prison officers when it visited the prison. [35013]

Miss Widdecombe

Responsibility for these matters 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 Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 3 July 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about staffing at Wolds prison.

There is no record of any member of staff at Wolds prison working double shifts during the last 12 months, and no prison officers have been seconded to work at the Wolds prison since it became operational in April 1992.

Four members of staff from the Wolds prison were on detached duty at Buckley Hall prison in April. They were deployed to support their colleagues at Buckley Hall following a disturbance and to offer advice about systems and procedures. There was no visit by Her Majesty's Inspector of Prisons to Buckley Hall prison at this time, and there has been no visit by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons to Wolds prison over the last 12 months.