HC Deb 30 November 1987 vol 123 c393W
Mr. Dicks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inmates of prisons have been released temporarily on compassionate grounds in each of the last five years; who authorised such releases; and what was the cost to public funds.

Mr. John Patten

Prisoners may be temporarily released on compassionate grounds on the authorisation of the prison governor, under rule 6 of the Prison Rules 1964 (as amended). The number of such releases and their cost are not recorded centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.