§ Lord Whaddonasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (a) How many prisoners are currently held in the secure cells in local prisons used for prisoners from dispersal prisons, and how long each of them has been in such a cell; and
- (b) How many prisoners were transferred to such cells during 1980, and how long each of them remained there.
§ Lord BelsteadArrangements have been made to provide a small number of secure cells at local prisons in England and Wales for use for prisoners temporarily transferred from dispersal prisons for control reasons; these cells may, however, also be used for other prisoners and local prisons may use other cells for prisoners from dispersal prisons. On 25th February 1981, four prisoners from dispersal prisons were held in local prisons under these arrangements. Three were in secure cells designated for the purpose. One had been there for 21 days, one for eight days and one for one day. The fourth prisoner was in other secure accommodation and had been there for 21 days. No other prisoner was located in a designated cell on that date.
Seventy-seven transfers took place from dispersal prisons to local prisons during 1980. Comprehensive information about the number of prisoners involved (some of whom may have been transferred more than once), about the occupancy of the designated cells, or about the duration of each transfer, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In 43 instances, however, the prisoner was returned to his parent prison after 28 days or less, and in the other 34 the prisoner stayed for a longer period at the local prison before being transferred permanently elsewhere.