asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison houses, no longer required for prison purposes, have been offered for sale to local authorities; how many such houses have been accepted by local authorities subject to valuation; and whether completion of such sales following the local authority's offer has taken more than two months in any instance.

Since the end of 1973, 238 prison houses or flats no longer required for prison purposes have been offered for sale to local authorities, of which 226 have been accepted subject to valuation. In all cases completion of sales following acceptance by the local authority has taken more than two months.