§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria for placing a convicted inmate in(a) an open prison and (b) a closed prison, with particular reference to the length of sentence; and if he will make a statement. [8517]
§ Miss WiddecombeResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked for a reply to be given.
Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 13 December 1996:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the criteria by which convicted prisoners are placed in closed or open prisons.The criteria used are set out in guidance contained in the enclosed Circular Instructions 7/1988 and 2/1991 issued by the Prison Service. Copies of these are available in the Library.