HC Deb 24 February 1995 vol 255 cc359-60W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards a prisoner at Her Majesty's prison, Sudbury, serving eight years for major fraud being granted home or temporary leave after serving 12 months of his sentence.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

[holding answer 13 February 1995]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 24 February 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the policy towards a prisoner at Sudbury prison serving eight years for major fraud being granted home or temporary leave after serving 12 months of his sentence. We have been unable to identify a prisoner at Sudbury prison serving an eight year sentence for major fraud although there is one prisoner serving a ten year sentence for fraud. Prisoners allocated to Sudbury prison would normally be eligible for the "compact weekend" scheme. In November 1994, the Home Secretary announced changes in the Home Leave and Temporary Release schemes for prisoners. Under the new rules, which will come into effect in the Spring, a prisoner serving such a sentence would not be released on temporary licence at that stage in his sentence.