To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many adult prisoners absconded from prisons in Lancashire in each of the last five years, broken down by category of conviction; how many such prisoners are still at large, broken down by category of conviction; and if he will make a statement. (111016)

[holding answer 29 January 2007]: The following table sets out the number of adult prisoners who have absconded from Kirkham open prison in Lancashire for each of the last five financial years. It would be possible to obtain information concerning each individual prisoner’s category of conviction only at disproportionate cost.

Accurate figures for recaptured prisoners are currently available only at a disproportionate cost. However, a special exercise earlier this month has shown that around three quarters of all absconders are returned to prison within 12 months of absconding.