HL Deb 14 November 1996 vol 575 cc114-5WA
Lord Marlesford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements exist, or are proposed, to inform Parliament or the public of the conclusions of any official inquiry into the escape from custody of category A or category B prisoners.

Baroness Blatch

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 to Lord Marlesford from the Director General of the Prison Service, Mr. Richard Tilt.

Lady Blatch has asked me to reply to your recent Question about what arrangements exist, or are proposed, to inform Parliament or the public of the conclusions of any official enquiry into the escape from custody of category A or category B prisoners.

Reports commissioned by the Prison Service into escapes are internal confidential documents and are not usually published. This is in line with longstanding government policy. The recent report on the enquiry into the escape from Blundeston is an internal confidential Prison Service document and will not be published.

Reports into escape enquiries which are commissioned outside the Prison Service may be published at the discretion of the Home Secretary.