HC Deb 04 May 1978 vol 949 c222W
40. Mr. Whitlock

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the pre-release hostel system was introduced in Her Majesty's prisons; what were the selection criteria for hostellers at that time; and in what way the selection criteria have now been revised following recommendations of Lord Mountbatten's report.

Mr. John

The hostel scheme started in 1953 at Bristol. There were no fixed selection criteria at that time, but the selection was based on the combined work record, conduct and prospects of those eligible.

The Mountbatten Report made no recommendations for revising selection criteria.