§ Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will confirm that during the past six weeks prisoners serving the following sentences for the crimes named have been sent to High Point prison, Suffolk: namely, two years two months—for unlawful wounding; three years—rape and grievous bodily harm; three years—grievous bodily harm and wounding; four years—buggery; robbery—three years nine months; assault with intent to rob—two years six months; robbery and 683W grievous bodily harm—six years; and incest and indecent assault—four years; whether, although some prisoners have since been transferred elsewhere, he is satisfied with the regrading decisions that caused these violent offenders to be lodged at any time in a prison that has only two fully secure cells and is equipped to deal only with C and D category inmates; and if the present movement of offenders into this prison conforms with the spirit and the letter of the undertaking given at its opening, that High Point at this stage will not be used to house dangerous criminals.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesHome Office central records confirm the presence at High-point prison of seven of the eight cases listed, of whom three have subsequently been transferred to other prisons. They had been properly put in security category C, from which prisoners convicted of offences involving sex and violence are not debarred and were, therefore, suitable for allocation to Highpoint prison. I am satisfied that, in accordance with what was said when the prison was opened, the standard of security there is appropriate to contain the current population.