SOUTH Dorset MP Jim Knight is urging the Home Secretary to come to a quick decision about the future of Portland's prison ship.

Mr Knight said he has requested an urgent meeting with David Blunkett and prisons minister Paul Goggins to clarify the position of HMP Weare which has been damned in an inspection report.

Chief inspector of prisons Ann Owers said the 400-bed unit should be closed unless millions of pounds of improvements are made.

Ms Owers claimed the ship was totally unsuitable for use in the 21st century, had no access to fresh air and little natural light.

Mr Knight said: "I have asked for an urgent meeting with the prisons minister Paul Goggins.

"I want to try and create some certainty as people who work at the prison will be feeling very insecure."

He added: "I have spoken to staff there and they are concerned. If the Home Office were to make a decision to close it then I would imagine admin staff in particular would struggle to find jobs."

Prison chiefs said they would conduct an appraisal of the vessel which has been at Portland Harbour since July 1997 during the next few months.

It costs £6.4 million a year to run and employs 250 people, many of whom live on the island.

Conservative Party spokesman for South Dorset Ed Matts said closing the Weare would have a major impact on the economy of Portland and the surrounding area.

He said: "The announcement that HMP Weare may be shut is premature and just a smokescreen to hide the Government's shambles over its prison reorganisation.

"They need to sort out what they are doing about prison overcrowding, not least because a rash decision to close the ship will have a big impact on local jobs and an already fragile economy."

Portland Port director Rupert Best said he would be delighted to see the ship remain in harbour.

He said: "As far as we are concerned there is no reason why the vessel cannot stay beyond 2006. Clearly this is something for the Prison Service and the Home Office to decide."