HC Deb 29 March 1996 vol 274 cc789-90W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions to date(a) cell lock or (b) other door or gate lock keys have been lost at Doncaster prison since it opened; and if he will make a statement. [23070]

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 29 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the loss of cell locks, door locks and gate lock keys at Doncaster prison.

No keys which permit access to cells or which would open gates have ever been lost. One key, which opened a store-room, was mislaid on 17 January 1996. The lock was changed immediately. Enquiries revealed that a member of staff had inadvertently removed the key from the prison. It was subsequently returned.