HC Deb 19 April 1956 vol 551 cc1165-6
33. Captain Corfield

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners for Horfield Prison, Bristol, are employed on working parties outside the prison; how many prisoners have escaped from Horfield Prison during the last five years; under what circumstances; and how long each such prisoner has been at large.

Mr. Deedes

Out of a total population of 294 on 17th April, 15 were employed in working parties outside the prison. During the last five years one man has escaped from the prison and was at large for nine days, and another absconded from an outside working party and was at large for three hours. There is also at Bristol Prison a hostel for selected men in the last stage of preventive detention, who go out daily to normal employments in the city like ordinary workmen: one of these men failed to return from work and has not since been heard of.