HC Deb 13 March 1996 vol 273 cc637-8W
Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer on 6 March,Official Report, column 245–46, on Buckley Hall prison what were the offences committed by the 10 prisoners who failed to return from authorised leave and are still unlawfully at large and what measures have been taken to recapture these prisoners. [20400]

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question, pursuant to his Answer on 6 March, Official Report, column 245–6, asking for details of the offences committed by the ten prisoners unlawfully at large from Buckley Hall prison on 26 February 1996.

The prisoners unlawfully at large had been charged with the following offences:

  • One: Conspiracy to Rob
  • One: Wounding
  • Four: Burglary
  • One: Escape from Lawful Custody
  • One: Affray
  • Two: Robbery

All prisoners who fail to return from authorised leave are reported to the local police.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of prison officers to prisoners at Buckley Hall prison; and what is the national average ratio of prison officers to prisoners for male category C training prisons. [20371]

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from Alastair Papps to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the ratio of prison officers to inmates at Buckley Hall, and the national average ratio of prison officers to inmates for male category C training prisons.

The information requested, as at 11 March 1996, is shown in the table below. The staffing ratio for publicly managed prisons includes prison officers, senior officers, principal officers and officers working in specialist areas such as healthcare.

Prison establishment staffing: Officer: Inmate ratio
Officer: Inmate ratio
Buckley Hall 1:3.7
Male category C training prisons 1:2.7

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have failed to return from authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison and have been subsequently caught and brought back since it opened. [20372]

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Miss Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prisoners have failed to return from authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison and have been subsequently caught and brought back since it opened.

The number of prisoners who failed to return from authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison from the date of its opening on 14 December 1994 to 26 February 1996 and were subsequently caught and brought back is 20. This includes those who returned voluntarily.

Ms Lynne

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prison officers that have(a) been dismissed and (b) faced other disciplinary action at Buckley Hall prison since it opened. [20373]

Miss Widdecombe

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 13 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of prison officers at Buckley Hall prison, who have either been dismissed or who have faced other disciplinary action since the prison opened.

Since the opening of Buckley Hall prison, no prison officer has been dismissed. Three prison officers have had disciplinary action taken against them.