To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Thomas Tangney was considered suitable for transfer to Ford Open Prison. [77321]

Mr. Tangney met the criteria which need to be satisfied before a transfer to open prison conditions takes place. These criteria were set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 11 March 1999, Official Report, column 332. The decision to transfer Mr. Tangney to open prison conditions was taken by Ministers on the recommendation of the Parole Board in line with normal practice in these cases.