§ 13. Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has any plans to eliminate special category status from Northern Ireland prisons on the opening of the new prison complex at Maghaberry; and what effect the opening of the new prison will have on the Northern Ireland prison system.
§ Mr. PriorI have no plans at present to eliminate special category status or to move the remaining special category prisoners from their existing accommodation at Her Majesty's prison Maze compound.
The larger of the two new prisons at Maghaberry will provide accommodation for 450 male prisoners. It is expected to be ready for occupation early in 1983 and will be used to deal with overcrowding, which still exists elsewhere in the prison system. How far that can be achieved and maintained depends upon the future prison population.
The smaller prison for women at Maghaberry is expected to be ready later next year. When it opens, the existing women's prison at Armagh, the greater part of which is over 200 years old, will be closed.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWould the opening of the new prison at Maghaberry be an appropriate occasion for the House to convey through my right hon. Friend to everyone in the Northern Ireland prison service our appreciation and gratitude for the courageous, dedicated and professional job that they do on our behalf?
§ Mr. PriorI am grateful for my hon. Friend's remarks. Tributes have been paid in the House today to both the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Northern Ireland prison service. I am sure that they will be very pleased to hear of those well merited tributes.
Mr. J. Enoch PowellWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm that there are no commitments or understandings which stand in the way of the complete abolition of special category status in the prisons of Northern Ireland and that it is desirable that this unacceptable anomaly be eliminated as soon as possible?
§ Mr. PriorThere are no commitments or understandings of any kind. On the latter part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, again this is a matter that must be kept under review to see how we get on.
§ Mr. FittHas the, Secretary of State's attention been drawn to the unanimous condemnation, voiced in the editorial comments of the Irish newspapers, of the terrible carnage in London last week? In particular, is he aware of the humane and compassionate editorial in the Irish Press immediately following the terrible brutality in London? Is he aware, however, that some of the writers of those editorials who condemn the violent activities of the IRA also support political status, particularly the editor of the Irish Press? Will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that when the perpetrators of the terrible crimes in London are apprehended there will never be any question of their being given special category status?
§ Mr. PriorThere can be absolutely no question of political status for anyone convicted of these terrible crimes. I am, however, grateful for the editorial comments of the Irish Press in the past 10 days. I am also grateful for the statements by Ministers of the Irish Republic, including the Irish Prime Minister, and for the action taken in the Tuite case, which was a great improvement on the previous situation.