Ford Open Prison

HC Deb 31 October 1990 vol 178 cc552-3W

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what limitations are placed upon the use of telephones in Ford open prison.

Mrs. Rumbold

Ford prison is an open establishment where all inmates are able to make telephone calls to family and friends.

There are eight telephone card booths available for use by inmates between 0745 to 2100 daily. Prisoners are allowed up to a maximum of seven £2 telephone cards at any time.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions since being imprisoned Mr. Gerald Ronson has been given permission to travel beyond the prison limits, and for what reasons.

Mrs. Rumbold

Since Mr. Gerald Ronson was convicted he has been temporarily released from Ford open prison on one occasion, on 18 October to see his own doctor for an ongoing medical problem.

Mr. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances business interests can be pursued by prisoners detained in Her Majesty's prisons.

Mrs. Rumbold

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 15 October at column725.

Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers knew that Mr. Gerald Ronson was to see his doctor in London on 18 October; and how many knew the name of the doctor and the location of his practice.

Mrs. Rumbold

The information that Gerald Ronson was to be temporarily released on 18 October was recorded on the prison "daily movements" list and would therefore have been available to all members of staff at Ford.

The information about his destination was known to those members of staff involved in his temporary release.