§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many vacant beds there are at present available in open prisons;
(2) how many open prisons have been closed or have ceased to be used as such over the past five years.
§ Mr. BrittanOn 10 June 1979, 463 places in open prisons for males were unoccupied. Three open prisons for males were closed in December 1974; one was, however, re-opened as an open prison for females in October 1975.