§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by(a) category, (b) sex and (c) length of time at large, the number of escaped prisoners that are currently on the run; and what are the corresponding figures for 12 months ago.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe available information relates to prisoners who escaped between 20 June 1988 and 31 August 1992. During this period 1,461 prisoners escaped from prison or prison custody. By 31 August 1992, 1,348 had been recaptured or returned to custody and three were known to be dead, leaving only 110 either at large or unaccounted for. The average time that the 1,348 who were recaptured spent at large was 29.5 days. Of the 110 still at large, 101 are male and nine female; two were remand prisoners provisionally regarded as category A; 10 category B; 53 category C; two category D; and 43 were not categorised, being either remand prisoners, convicted young offenders or women who were not category A or civil prisoners. Corresponding figures for 12 months ago are not available.