HC Deb 18 January 1995 vol 252 c536W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escaped prisoners are currently at large.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 18 January 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of escaped prisoners currently at large.

This information has only been recorded centrally since 20 June 1988. From that date to 13 January this year (inclusive) 123 prisoners who escaped are still unlawfully at large.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many escaped prisoners from prisons in the Greater London regions are currently at large; how long each has been at large; what offences each has been convicted of; from which prison each escaped; and whether each has escaped before.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mrs. Barbara Roche, dated 18 January 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have escaped from prisons in the Greater London area and who are still currently at large; their offences; the prisons from which they escaped; the length of time they have been at large and whether those prisoners had escaped before.

The information you request has only been recorded centrally since 20 June 1988. The table below gives the relevant details of the seven prisoners who escaped between 20 June 1988 and 13 January this year (inclusive) and who are still at large:

Since February 1993, there have been 10 applications under the business appointment rules by Home Office staff for permission to take up offers of employment from outside employers on leaving Crown service. In the same period, three additional members of staff reported offers of employment which did not require an application under the rules. In each case, the report was followed by an application to join the company concerned.