§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what mechanism exists to allow for reconsideration of the allocation of a prisoner to a particular prison;
(2) what weighting is given to the needs of a prisoner when the allocation to a particular prison is made; and at what stage in the process of allocation an assessment takes place.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe allocation decision is made as soon as possible after the prisoner is received under sentence, and takes account, inter alia, of an assessment of the prisoner's needs which is based on information from records and from interview. The weight which it is possible to give to this factor varies according to circumstances and each case is considered on its merits. Prison service procedures require the allocation decision to be reviewed at least annually following reassessment of the prisoner's security category. It is open to any prisoner to apply at any time to be reallocated.