HC Deb 09 July 1996 vol 281 cc143-4W
Mr. George Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful escapes by prisoners occurred in each year since 1988 from(a) prison and (b) escort. [35911]

Miss Widdecombe

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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 9 July 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many successful escapes by prisoners occurred in each year since 1988 from (a) prison and (b) escort. The requested information is given in the attached table. (The first full year for which figures are available is 1989–90.)

Year Escapes from establishment Escapes from escort Total
1989–90 146 111 257
1990–91 225 111 336
1991–92 308 155 463
1992–93 232 115 347
1993–94 171 125 1296
1994–95 151 66 217
1995–96 52 70 122
1 In 1993–94, 23 of the escapes were from escorts that, prior to contracting out, would have been the responsibility of the police. In 1994–95 there were 15 such escapes and in 1995–96, 34.

Mr. Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors underlay the interval leading up to the publication of the Prison Service annual report for 1994–95. [53861]

Miss Widdecombe

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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 9 July 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what factors underlay the interval leading up to the publication of the Prison Service annual report for 1994–5. Factors underlying the delay included changes at Director level during a critical time in the preparation of the report and other priorities, in particular the implementation of the security recommendations in the Woodcock Report and the introduction of mandatory drug testing. In addition a major revision of the report was undertaken following the publication of the Learmont Report. Work is currently underway on the 1995–96 report which we expect will be published later this year.

Mr. Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants were made by the Prison Service to non-profit-making organisations during the(a) current and (b) last financial year. [35869]

Miss Widdecombe

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 Richard Tilt to Mr. George Howarth, dated 9 July 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about grants made by the Prison Service to non-profit making organisations during the current and last financial year. The expenditure for 1995–96 and from April 1996 to June 1996 is given in the attached table.

Grants 1995–96 1996–97 April to June 1996
Community Service Volunteers 192,000 48,000
Prisoners Abroad 88,357 23,389
NACRO 226,000
National Association of Prison Visitors 82,000 10,000
Prison Visitors Centres 637,465 189,310