asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to recruit more nursing officers for Holloway Prison.

With the assistance of agency staff, there is at present a full complement of nurses at Holloway Prison.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman not understand that the medical officer of Holloway is anxious to recruit his own staff, because agency staff are much more expensive? Will he give some thought and attention to this to see that the staff are provided for the parts of Holloway where they are needed?

Like the hon. Lady, I have recently visited Holloway and I fully appreciate the need for adequate medical staff. She will appreciate that efforts are made from time to time to recruit nurses directly for Holloway, but it is a profession in which there is a substantial turnover. I do not think that the prison service is alone in suffering from this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations took place between his Department and the London Borough of Islington regarding the new staff headquarters at Holloway Prison, London, N.7; and if he will make a statement.

There have been consultations with the Planning Department of Islington Borough Council at frequent intervals during the past 2½ years. I understand that the plans for the staff

I am grateful for that reply. Will the hon. and learned Gentleman explain why building has started on the site before final approval has been received from Islington Borough Council and when the views of the local residents have not been taken into account?

It is true that work has started, but it started a year after plans were deposited with the local authority. It is not up to the Home Office to decide when those plans are drawn to the attention of a particular committee of the local authority, if that is necessary.