§ Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long prisons accept responsibility for the property and savings of an absconded prisoner; and what happens to these when the prison disclaims further responsibility.
§ Mr. BrittanRule 41(3)A of the prison rules 1964, as amended by the Prison (Amendment) Rules 1976, prescribes that any property belonging to a prisoner which remains unclaimed for a period of more than three years after he leaves prison, or dies, may be sold or otherwise disposed of and the net proceeds of any sale shall be paid to the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders for its general purposes. The private cash of an absconder which has remained unclaimed for more than a year is disposed of likewise. Should the prisoner return to custody at any time after his cash has been so appropriated, it is returned to him.