§ Mr. SternTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the accommodation of prisoners as close as possible to their families, taking into account considerations of security and accommodation.
§ Mr. MellorFour main principles govern the allocation of sentenced prisoners to training establishments: the needs of security, the needs of control, the needs of the individual prisoners and the need to make the best use of accommodation.
In applying these considerations, we of course recognise that it is in the interests of most prisoners to be located as near to their home area as is practicable, to ease visiting arrangements for families and friends and to help prisoners in the last part of their sentence in preparation for release.
Prisoners held in prison service custody on remand are generally held in those establishments which are nearest to their courts of remand or trial.