§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they propose to take to reassure the public that the circumstances surrounding the escape of six category A prisoners (one of whom remains at large) and 18 category B prisoners (four of whom remain at large) since January 1995 have been properly investigated and whether they will report to Parliament on the lessons learnt from these escapes.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch):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 to Lord Marlesford from the Director of Security and Programmes, the Prison Service, Mr. A. J. Pearson.
Lady Blatch has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking what steps are proposed to reassure the public that the circumstances surrounding the escape of six category A prisoners and eighteen category B prisoners since January 1995 have been properly investigated and whether they will report to Parliament on the lessons learnt from these escapes.
None of the 18 category B prisoners who have escaped since January 1995 remains at large.
The Prison Service investigates all escapes, the level of the investigation corresponding to the seriousness of the incident. The investigation of escapes at category B level will be undertaken by at least a senior governor. Escapes at category A level have been investigated by assistant directors or by public inquiry set up by the Home Secretary, as in the case of the escape from Parkhurst prison on 3rd January 1995, when Sir John Learmont conducted the inquiry.
It is Prison Service policy not to publish internal investigations, as making the findings public could damage security and make prisoners aware of security weaknesses and methods of escape. Findings 94WA resulting from inquiries are circulated to all prison establishments.
On 24th July 1996, Ann Widdecombe published an interim progress report which gave details of the Prison Service response to 100 of Sir John Learmont's 127 recommendations. Since then the implementation of a further 11 recommendations has been taken forward. The measures taken in response to the Learmont Report form part of the wide-ranging programme of action initiated by the service to build on its improved performance in security.
The remaining Learmont recommendations will be considered in the light of their operational impact, effectiveness and value for money.
Overall escapes have been reduced by the Prison Service's policies from 347 in 1992-93, the last year prior to agency status, to 122 in 1995-96.
In the current financial year there have been no category A escapes. The six category B prisoners who escaped from an escort from Blundeston prison on 5th November have now been recaptured.