HC Deb 28 June 1967 vol 749 cc85-6W
55. Mr. Woodnutt

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why his Department consider that after serving 10 years in prison a prisoner has insufficient compassionate grounds to justify a transfer to a prison nearer his relatives and friends.

Mr. Buchan

Arrangements are made to enable long-term prisoners to be moved temporarily each year to receive visits. As regards permanent transfer, it is necessary to weigh any hardship there may be to a prisoner in serving a sentence at some distance from home against other factors such as availability of suitable training and the grouping of prisoners of similar history and character. Length of time served could not in itself determine where a prisoner should be kept.