HC Deb 14 July 1977 vol 935 cc758-9
3. Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the arrangements regulating the movement of prisoners from one prison to another.

Mr. John

These arrangements are kept under continuous review, but if the hon. Member has a particular point of concern perhaps he would write to me about it.

Mr. Arnold

I am grateful for that reply. Is it not the case that prison governors sometimes find themselves in the position of having to take in significant numbers of prisoners from other prisons at short notice? Does the Minister agree that this contributes to overcrowding and makes the running of prisons much more difficult in circumstances in which the governor literally may not know from one day to the next how many prisoners he will have?

Mr. John

Clearly, if there is a sudden influx of population it makes any institution difficult to run. The reasons why prisoners are switched from prison to prison vary in many cases, but we try to give notice wherever possible.

Mr. Hooson

In view of the deteriorating position in Walton Gaol, about which I have been in touch with the Home Secretary—we all know that there are great difficulties there—is it intended to move prisoners from that gaol as they are now threatened with being in their cells for 24 hours a day?

Mr. John

I cannot give an answer to that question. Perhaps I may write to the hon. and learned Gentleman.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

Will my hon. Friend ensure that when prisoners are moved from one prison to another the near relatives are informed at the earliest possible moment, to avoid unnecessary visits to the wrong prison?

Mr. John

Yes. I recognise the importance of what my hon. Friend has said, and we shall certainly do that.

Mr. Alan Clark

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that recent cases have shown that the movement of prisoners carries grave risks both to public security and to the safety of prison officers? What new procedures has he authorised to be followed in such cases, and what steps is he taking to ensure that they are carried out?

Mr. John

My right hon. Friend, in announcing his acceptance of the Hughes Report, indicated what steps he was taking. Clearly the carriage of prisoners can cause difficulty, but a proper assessment of the degree of danger and obedience to the steps laid down in the Hughes Report will minimise the danger.