§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted category A prisoners have escaped in each year since 1965.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythResponsibility 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 A. J. Butler to Mr. Jack Straw, dated 30 January 1995:
The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about how many convicted category A prisoners have escaped in each year since 1965.Category A was introduced in June 1967. The following table shows the number of convicted category A prisoners who escaped in each calendar year since then.
Year Number of prisoners Year Number of prisoners 1967 0 1987 2 1968 1 1988 0 1969 0 1989 1 1970 1 1990 1 1971 0 1991 1 1972 4 1992 1 1973 1 1993 0 1974 and 1975 0 1994 6 1976 3 1995 2 1977–1986 (inclusive) 0 — —
In addition, in 1980 there were three escapes, and in 1991 two escapes, by remand/unconvicted category A prisoners.
§ Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many category A, category B and category C prisoners have escaped from custody in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 16 January 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 Mr. John Hutton, dated 30 January 1995:
505WThe Home Secretary has asked me, to reply to your recent Question about how many Category A, B and C prisoners escaped from custody in each year since 1979.The information is not available in exactly the form you request. Information about escapes of category A prisoners is in the following table:
Type of Establishment 20 June 1988-31 March 1989 1 April 1989-31 March 1990 1 April 1990-31 March 1991 1 April 1991-31 March 1992 1 April 1992-31 March 1993 1 April 1993-31 March 1994 1 April 1994-31 March 1995 Dispersal — 1 — — — — 1 Category B 49 15 34 50 45 24 23 Category C 82 99 153 170 126 104 77 Closed Young Offender 10 29 37 75 58 50 23 Closed Female — — 1 10 7 1 5 Escorts (Male) 95 106 107 140 138 116 51 Escorts (Female) 7 5 4 14 13 9 7 Total 243 255 336 459 387 296 187 The above information also includes escapes from closed young offender establishments and those escapes form closed female establishments during this period. Young offenders and female prisoners are not classified as Category B or C, but as suitable for either closed or open conditions.