Written question asked by Baroness Stern (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour) on Monday, 29 September 2008.

Prisoners: Women

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:How many women prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection in Bullwood Hall and Cookham Wood prisons have had their access to the courses necessary in order to apply to the Parole Board for release postponed because the prisons in question have become prisons for men; and for how long the women involved had to wait for those courses.

Answer: I am unable to provide a precise Answer to this Question. The relevant information is not held centrally. Examination of each individual prisoner's record would involve significant disproportionate cost and would still not necessarily establish whether the change of function of the prisons was the cause of any delay in accessing offending behaviour courses. However, as Bullwood Hall and Cookham Wood were in the process of becoming prisons for men, the offending behaviour needs of each prisoner were considered on an individual basis. The aim was not to move any women undergoing accredited programmes or interventions until they had completed them. There was difficulty with the Choices, Actions, Relationships and Emotions (CARE) programme as at that time Cookham Wood was the only prison delivering it. This programme is now provided at Downview.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5077; 703 c379-80WA
Session: 2007-08
Notes: Answer received between Wednesday 27 August and Monday 1 September 2008
Subjects: Women Prisoners Rehabilitation HMP Bullwood Hall HMYOI Cookham Wood
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk