§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by open prison(a) the percentage of inmates convicted of sexual offences and serving life sentences and (b) the number of inmates who have absconded during the last 12 months; and if he will show, in his answer, which of these figures concern female inmates.
§ Mr. MellorAccording to the information held centrally, which is approximate, there were seven males on 30 June 1989 serving life sentences for sexual offences in open prisons in England and Wales. All were held at Leyhill accounting for 2 per cent. of its population. Information on absconds from open prisons is given in the table.
Absconds from open prisons in England and Wales: by establishment, October 1988 to September 1989 Establishment Absconds2 Male open prisons Ford 65 Highpoint 3 Kirkham 125 Leyhill 26 Morton Hall 27 North Sea Camp 28 Rudgate 117 Spring Hill 26 Standford Hill 71 Sudbury1 68 All male open prisons 556 Female open prisons Askham Grange 8 Drake Hall 49 East Sutton Park 14 All female open prisons 71 1 Includes Foston Hall 2 During October 1988 to September 1989