§ 9. Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escapes or attempted escapes had been made by Frank Ellis Mitchell from institutions in which it was sought to detain him prior to his escape from Dartmoor on 12th December, 1966.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsBetween 1947 and 1950 Mitchell absconded four times from Borstals. He also escaped from Rampton Hospital in 1957 and from Broadmoor Hospital in 1958. He attempted to escape from Rampton in 1958 and, as part of a mass break-out, from Hull prison in 1962.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterCan the Home Secretary say whether his present instructions permit the allowing out of working parties of prisoners with this kind of record of escapes and attempted escapes?
§ Mr. JenkinsThe right hon. Gentleman will be aware, if he has studied the Mountbatten Report, as I am sure he has, that it said that there was much to be said in support of the decision to allow Mitchell to join an outside working party, although not an honour party. One has to bear that in mind. In addition, one has to bear in mind the passage of time and that, in the case of most prisoners, one has to look forward to some release date.
§ Mr. FarrWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, where a system exists which permits a prisoner to make so many attempts to escape, there must he something seriously amiss with it?
§ Mr. JenkinsIt is a system which has existed for a very long time. It goes hack to 1947. I agree that there are certain things about the system which we should improve, and I am endeavouring to do that.
§ Mr. HoggWill the right hon. Gentleman jog the memory of his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House about his promise to give Government time for a debate on the Mountbatten Report?
§ Mr. JenkinsI am looking forward to that debate with anticipation which is as eager as that of the right hon. and learned Gentleman.