§ Vera BairdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to tackle racial abuse in HM Prison Holloway and HM Prison Styal. [141622]
§ Paul GogginsThe Prison Service will not tolerate any form of racist behaviour. I am not aware that either Holloway prison or Styal prison have a problem with racial abuse among staff or prisoners. Both prisons have a level of minority ethnic staff that is well above target. Significant amounts of diversity and race relations training have been delivered at both establishments.
§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost of recapturing prisoners who absconded(a) from H M Prison Sudbury and (b) from Her Majesty's Prisons was during (i) 2003 and (ii) 2002. [141265]
§ Paul GogginsThe recapture of prisoners unlawfully at large and their return to custody is a matter for the police. This information is not recorded and held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are held in HM Prison Sudbury; and how many of these are serving a life sentence. [141397]
§ Paul GogginsThe number of prisoners held at Her Majesty's Prison Sudbury, as at 30 April 2003, was 505. The number of these serving a life sentence was 76.
§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many open prisons there are in the United Kingdom; and how many prisoners have absconded from open prisons in the last 12 months. [141399]
§ Paul GogginsThere are 15 open prisons in England and Wales. In the 12 months from November 2002 to October 2003 there were 1,173 reported absconds from these prisons. I am unable to provide information for prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as these establishments are the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service and the Northern Ireland Prison Service respectively.