§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the escape of a prisoner on 19th June from High Point Prison, Suffolk, indicating how this man was able to get away; and what steps are being taken to prevent any further incidents of this kind.
§ Dr. SummerskillOn 19th June 1978 Anthony Hobb, a category D prisoner—34W that is, one who could reasonably be trusted to serve his sentence in open conditions—absconded from an outside working party at Highpoint Prison. Both his criminal record and his previous behaviour while in custody show that the decision to classify him as category D was a reasonable one. We are satisfied that the working party received the degree of supervision appropriate to category D prisoners; but various possible improvements in arrangements are being considered.