To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff employed at Belmarsh prison, Woolwich will be housed within the development and how many transferred from other areas will be seeking accommodation in the vicinity.

No quarters will be provided for prison officer grades at this establishment. It is too early to say how many of our staff will look for accommodation in the area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects Belmarsh prison, Woolwich, to be operational.

It is hoped that HMP Belmarsh will be ready to admit prisoners in April 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approaches have been made to housing authorities in the area to provide accommodation for staff to be employed at Belmarsh prison, Woolwich.

Home Office officials have contacted a number of housing authorities in the area and discussions are continuing. This is just one of a number of options that are currently being pursued with the aim of assisting staff moving into the Belmarsh area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff will be employed at Belmarsh prison, Woolwich, when it is fully operational; in what grades; and how many of these will be locally recruited.

The number of staff who will be employed at Her Majesty's prison Belmarsh is still under consideration. It is too early to say how many of these staff will be locally recruited.