HC Deb 06 July 1972 vol 840 cc741-2
23. Mr. Kilfedder

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will state the special privileges which are being granted to a certain number of convicted persons in Belfast Prison, who claim to be political prisoners.

Mr. Whitelaw

Certain convicted prisoners in Belfast Prison who are located separately from other inmates are now allowed to wear their own clothes. They will be allowed to receive at least one visit and a food parcel each week and to spend their own money in the prison canteen. Their allocation of letters will also be increased. Prison regulations already allow some other prisoners to receive some of these privileges.

Mr. Kilfedder

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in Northern Ireland a great number of people—this is not restricted to the loyal community—feel concerned about the status of political prisoner being granted to a number of men in Belfast Prison? Will he let us know whether the Government intend to give the same special privileges to members of the Angry Brigade or to the man now in prison who threw a tear gas bomb into this Chamber? Would he not agree that the only special privileges which are granted to people in prison in England and Wales are those in maximum security wings?

Mr. Whitelaw

I have made it perfectly clear that the status of political prisoner is not being granted. What has been granted is similar to the facilities provided in the Parkhurst and Leicester wings in this country.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Was Mr. Augustus Spence who, in October, 1966, within the United Kingdom, was found guilty of murder—by jury and by due process of law, to which we all loyally adhere—being treated as a political prisoner until recently? Why, while under the sentence of life imprisonment, was he allowed out to attend a wedding?

Mr. Whitelaw

The reason why he was given parole to attend his daughter's weding, and also to see his old and ailing mother was that the arrangements for parole in Northern Ireland have been very fairly applied to people of all communities in respect of all sorts of crimes, and they have always been observed. I believe that it is right to give parole in these circumstances, where the evidence in the past is that people from all communities convicted of very different crimes have loyally observed the terms of the parole. That is why it was done in this case, and I stand by what was done.