HL Deb 07 July 1982 vol 432 c886WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many prisoners were transferred from a dispersal prison to a local prison under the provisions of Circular Instruction 10/74 in each of the months of 1981, and in each of the months of 1982 so far; and whether, in view of the critical overcrowding of local prisons, they will ask governors to use the power given to them in this Circular sparingly, and with due regard to the position in the particular prison to which the inmate would be sent.

Lord Elton

The information is as follows:

1981 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June
5 4 4 16 3 3
July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
7 5 5 14 5 4
1982 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May
6 5 10 6 10

Transfers under Circular Instruction 10/1974 do not have a significant effect on the overcrowding of local prisons, but the governor of a dispersal prison is required to confirm with the governor of the local prison that there are no exceptional problems that would make it impossible for the prisoner to be accommodated.