§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have approached the local authority for Portland, Dorset, in connection with plans for using a ship or barge to accommodate prisoners or detainees; and, if so, when they expect such plans to become effective.
§ Baroness BlatchResponsibility 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 to Lord Hylton from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt.
Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the Prison Service's plans to use a floating prison at Portland, Dorset.
The Prison Service has bought the floating prison the "Resolution" (which is to be renamed the "Weare") and it is now undergoing repair and renovation in New York. An application for planning consent has been submitted to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and was considered by a full meeting of the council on 6 February. The council rejected the application, which has now been referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment and it is hoped that a decision will be reached in mid-March.