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Prisons

Volume 447: debated on Friday 16 June 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to avoid moving prisoners between establishments as a result of overcrowding, with particular reference to those who are participating in education programmes; and if he will make a statement. (77246)

[holding answer 13 June 2006]: Prisoners are usually transferred when their security category has been changed, to enable them to meet the requirements of their sentence plan, for compassionate reasons, as part of their preparation for release and for operational security reasons. High population levels can also lead to prisoners being transferred to establishments with a greater number of vacancies.

Existing guidance requires prison governors to consider family contact issues and the education and training needs of individual prisoners before moving them, and to move them to prisons which can most suitably meet their work and training requirements.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are developing new learning and skills delivery arrangements. These include plans to ensure educational records are available electronically when prisoners transfer between establishments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to bring into use temporary pre-fabricated units to address prison overcrowding; and if he will make a statement. (77247)

[holding answer 13 June 2006]: There are no plans to accommodate prisoners in temporary units such as the modular temporary units used in 2002.