§ 31. Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the first life sentence prisoner to be transferred to Sudbury open prison.
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§ Dr. SummerskillNo decision about the timing of the first transfers will be taken until after the local discussion recommended in the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the proposal to send life sentence prisoners to Sudbury prison.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why there are only 11 open prisons in use in England and Wales as opposed to 15 in 1973; and why there are significantly fewer prisoners in open prisons than there were in 1971.
§ Dr. SummerskillMy right hon. Friend explained in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) on 31st July 1974 that the reduction in the prison population, the operation of the parole system and the development of non-custodial penalties had affected the number of prisoners suitable for open conditions and that he had accordingly decided to close four open prisons.—[Vol. 878, c.221–2.]