HC Deb 09 July 1996 vol 281 cc141-2W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners who were convicted of an offence involving violence against the person are currently in an open prison. [35689]

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. Gordon Prentice, dated 9 July 1996: The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners, convicted of an offence involving violence against the person, currently being held in open prisons. The latest available information is for 31 May 1996. On that date there were 800 prisoners held in open prisons in England and Wales who were recorded as being sentenced for an offence in the group "violence against the person".