§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the computer system for recording details, including location, of offenders currently serving custodial sentences in England and Wales is not linked to those serving sentences in establishments in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively and whether they believe it to be desirable that it should.
Earl FerrersThe computer system which is used in England and Wales was developed to meet the specific requirements of prisons in those two countries, and no requirement to hold information about inmates held in other jurisdictions has been specified by any of the departments concerned.
It is considered that the expenditure which would be required to extend the existing computer system to hold details of inmates who are held in other jurisdictions, would be out of proportion to the possible benefits.