Risley Remand Centre (Hansard, 8 July 1988)

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, action is being taken on all the chief inspector's recommendations relating to Risley remand centre. A statement by my right honourable friend the Home Secretary setting out the 517 action which is being taken was published on 30th June with the report on the inspection. Copies have been placed in the Library.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, while acknowledging the limited and all too belated measures to which the Minister has referred, do not the Government feel a profound sense of shame at the barbaric conditions which were disclosed in the report of the Chief Inspector of Prisons—conditions which were also breaches of fundamental human rights and dignities—to which the completely unconvicted prisoners have been subjected? In view of the critical circumstances, will the Minister confirm that a senior civil servant will be appointed to supervise the implementation of the urgent recommendations in the report? Will he also consider an immediate increase in the number of inspectors so that these institutions are in fact inspected at intervals of less than eight to 10 years?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I of course take sensitive note of the noble Lord's comments about, the distressing and sorrowful conditions in the gaol and what has happened. As regards senior civil servants, I do not think it is for me to say anything about that at the moment; it is something which I shall comment about to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary. More frequent and regular visits to prisons are the responsibility of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons. Again, it is a suggestion that I shall readily put to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.

§ Lord Mishcon
My Lords, I hope that the noble Earl will forgive me if I return to the matter for a moment. I was asking whether the Government would increase the number of inspectors so that inspections can take place at intervals of less than eight to 10 years. In view of the critical report, will he ask his right honourable friend whether that can- be done?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I am sorry if I did not quite get the noble Lord's question right in the first place. However, I make the same comment: I shall pass on his remarks to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.

Lord Morris
My Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind the fact that Her Majesty's courts will shortly have the power to remand prisoners for 28 as opposed to eight days before reviewing the process of the prosecution? It is thus even more important that conditions in remand centres can be kept under constant review and subject to inspections.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I of course take note of my noble friend's comments.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, is the Minister aware that concern about the conditions in prisons used as remand centres goes far wider than that covered by the appalling report on Risley? Is he further aware that conditons in the old gaols such as 518 Armley and Strangeways leave a lot to be desired, not only for the prisoners but for their families when they want to visit them? They are often kept in the open without reception facilities. Will he bring these matters to the notice of his right honourable friend to see whether anything can be done about the overall situation?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, the Government are of course aware of conditions in remand centres. They regularly inspect remand centres to see that the conditions are up to the required standard. Bearing in mind what has happened, I shall of course bring the matter to the attention of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, is the Minister aware that Risley remand centre has had a bad reputation for many years? There has been a high rate of suicides. Does he realise that it is difficult to break a reputation that has been held for so long? Does he also realise that I am pleased to hear that the 21 year-olds are to be removed to Hindley youth custody centre? That is a good move. Will he—

§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Belstead)
My Lords, too many questions!

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I am aware of the position about the removal of the 21 year-olds to Hindley. There has been a certain amount of comment about Risley. I do not necessarily believe that once a prison has a had reputation, provided the correct steps are taken to put it right, that reputation cannot be broken fairly quickly.