§ Mr. Mark OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Prison Service review of the open prison estate; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [155065]
§ Paul GogginsIn his statement on 6 January, in response to concern about prisoners absconding from open prisons, my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary said that he had asked the new chief executive of the National Offender Management Service to "report on the operation of open prisons". This was a request for advice from officials not for a formal report or review. I am at present considering the advice but it would be inappropriate to publish it and I have no plans to do so.