§ Mr. McLoughlinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what targets have been set for the transfer of prisoners from closed prisons to open prisons; and how many(a) Category A prisoners, 1270W (b) Category B prisoners and (c) Category C prisoners were reclassified as Category D prisoners in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2002. [148878]
§ Paul GogginsThere are no binding targets for the transfer of prisoners from closed prisons to open prisons. There are agreed delivery levels for the transfer of prisoners from Category C conditions to open conditions, which are monitored by Area Managers but not enforced. Governors and Area Managers work to ensure that all prisoners assessed as suitable for open conditions are moved there as soon as possible. Any move to open conditions is subject to the prisoner being approved to do so through a risk assessment.
The total number of prisoners in prisons in England and Wales at 30 June 2002 and 30 June 2003 who had been reclassified to a Category D classification during the previous 12 months is shown in the table.
(i) 30 June 2003 (ii) 30 June 2002 Total number of prisoners reclassified as Category D1 2,900 2,300 1All category D prisoners are re-categorised from category C irrespective of their original classification on entry to prison.